I really hate paying these fees every three months. They are so high and it doesn't seem like they are doing anything with the money. They stopped building houses in our neighborhood about a year ago, because no one was/is buying houses. The empty lots are covered in weeds and garbage, the trees in the park areas and along the sidewalks are never trimmed and there is graffiti on the swing sets and some of the fences. We have let our yard go before and have forgotten to bring in the trashcans a time or two and we have never been fined and I have never seen anyone "inspecting" the houses before. Not that I want to get fined, but isn't that the point of the HOA; to keep the neighborhood up so people will move here? What are they doing with the money?? Sometimes I think we should just not pay it. Does anyone know what would happen if we didn't? They can add a late charge, but they can't kick us out of a house that we own!!
HOA FEES!!!
- Thread starter Barbel
- Start date
BalloonzForU
New Member
- Messages
- 7,573
- Location
- Grand Blanc, MI
When there's a HOA you own the house but not the land. In this case the HOA should be fining itself for not upkeeping the empty lots.
Have you tried filing a complaint with the HOA about their part in taking care of these things?
Have you tried filing a complaint with the HOA about their part in taking care of these things?
ILoveGeckos14
New Member
- Messages
- 944
- Location
- Florida
OH MAN this is the story of my life for the past 5 years. We have been paying dues for years and the Condo association is in charge of maintaining the outside of the units and they haven't been at all! They just finally got landscapers that do their job and re-did the siding on my unit. I filed a complaint 5 years ago backed up by a inspection report that I had upon moving in that stated it needed to be done for structural and mold reasons and it took them this long to do it. So frustrating. Its like I could've just taken that 4K for the year and been so much more productive!!!! I went to the board meetings and they said that the funds for the association are at an all time low and are trying to blame it on maintainance costs and foreclosures-------lies!! I see their expenditures, they should at least be making 30K a year(even with the current people not paying their dues)!! And I had the chance to visit the head of the association the other day and of course her unit is fully renovated with nice tile and wood flooring and granite countertops........RAWR!!! I don't know what would happen in your case but we have people that hadn't paid for years and they just had legal action taken on them after they accrued over 6K of HOA fees. I'm in the same boat as far as not wanting to pay anymore as well, if all those people can sit there and not pay and it makes my HOA higher after all these years what am I supposed to do? I asked how much the renovations on the buildings would be and guess what I've practically paid for the whole thing to be renovated after all this time......Sorry to take the post off subject but it is so frustrating!
Mel&Keith
Mod Squad Member
- Messages
- 7,180
- Location
- Pasadena, TX
Actually, they can try to kick you out of the home you own! I think the laws are different in every state but in Texas they can basically force a foreclosure for unpaid fees if you're paying on a mortgage for your house. If the house is paid for they can put a lien on it.
If your neighborhood is regular lot homes (not condos) then each homeowner owns their house and lot and would be responsible for upkeep on both.
Is this a development where one builder came in and built every house in the new neighborhood?
If so, this means that the probably builder owns the lots they stopped building on. What you have to find out is whether or not the builder is held to the same rules as homeowners. I would bet that he's not which may be where the problem lies.
The HOA should be responsible for paying maintenance on common areas like the park though. That's why you pay dues!
I would take photos and video of everything you mentioned and try to get the local news paper/tv station to do a story on it. Stuff like that happens all the time here and it's usually the only way to get anything done if you can't afford an attorney. Get the other neighbors to join in the fight. Home owners associations can be great for keeping the neighborhood nice but they can also be very corrupt.
If your neighborhood is regular lot homes (not condos) then each homeowner owns their house and lot and would be responsible for upkeep on both.
Is this a development where one builder came in and built every house in the new neighborhood?
If so, this means that the probably builder owns the lots they stopped building on. What you have to find out is whether or not the builder is held to the same rules as homeowners. I would bet that he's not which may be where the problem lies.
The HOA should be responsible for paying maintenance on common areas like the park though. That's why you pay dues!
I would take photos and video of everything you mentioned and try to get the local news paper/tv station to do a story on it. Stuff like that happens all the time here and it's usually the only way to get anything done if you can't afford an attorney. Get the other neighbors to join in the fight. Home owners associations can be great for keeping the neighborhood nice but they can also be very corrupt.
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