By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities
This month: Several examples of two growing problems in HOAville USA: deferred maintenance and poor management. Homeowners and taxpayers bear the costly financial burdens.
California
Beachside condo owners face $32K per unit special assessment
A Southern California beach community in Port Hueneme is facing an economic crisis.
Dozens of buildings at Anacapa View Condominium, originally constructed in the 1970s, suffer from decades of deferred maintenance.
According to one local news source, serious strucrutal defects include rotting wood support beams holding up exterior stairways and balconies. The buildings also need new electrical panels, lighting, and fresh exterior paint. And it’s way past time to replace the community’s perimeter fence.
Sounds mighty expensive, right?
Wait for the sticker shock.
To pay for repairs, property owners were recently shocked to learn they’ll have to come up with a $32,200 per unit special assessment.
Owners who cannot afford to pay it all in one lump sum have the option of paying the condo association $281 per month for the next 15 years.
California law requires members to vote on large special assessments. But if owners don’t vote to approve the massive construction project, the condo association plans to move forward anyway.
That’s because state law also allows an HOA board to increase annual assessments by up to 20 percent, as well as imposing five percent “emergency” assessments to address immediate safety concerns.
Homeowners say the condo association isn’t being transparent about the full scope of work proposed. They also wonder if the contract bid is inflated. Some homeowners fear that the HOA will foreclose on their units if they cannot afford to pay their assessments.
Gold Coast Management Company will reportedly collect a ten percent administrative fee on the contract.
Source:
Anacapa View residents forced to pay for years of neglect
Monday, March 9, 2020
By Chris Frost, Tricounty Sentry
Florida
Stormwater retention pond & erosion threaten home
Erosion along the shorelines of a stormwater retention pond is a serious problem for homeowners in the LPGA community of Daytona Beach.
Norman and Barbara Blodgett own a “waterfront view” home in the Jubilee Addition Homeowners Association. From their enclosed lanai, a long, narrow retention pond is just a stone’s throw away.
But lately, the water had crept a bit too close for comfort.
And, as usual, the HOA that’s supposed to maintain the pond as part of a common stormwater management system avoids taking action. They’re hoping the homeowners will eat the cost of repairs.
Sound familiar? Apparently, many readers can relate to this problem. An article on the HOA realities of living next to a stormwater retention pond is one of the most-read articles here on IAC.
As more and more stormwater ponds show signs of deterioration in HOA-governed communities, we’re likely to see more reports like this one.
Source:
Volusia couple says retention pond is creeping closer to home
HOA owns retention pond, but won’t pay for repair
Louis Bolden, News 6 Investigative Reporter
Published: February 13, 2020, 6:38 pm
City agrees to temporary road repairs to maintain public safety
Another huge problem in HOA-governed communities — crumbling private roads.
The Country Village HOA (Volusia County, FL) hasn’t maintained its sole access road in 30 years. Owners and residents say they cannot afford to fix the road or keep it in good condition. Not surprisingly, the neglected road is now filled with potholes, and too dangerous for emergency response vehicles.
After 300 mobile home park residents petitioned Orange City for help, council members agreed to make $68,000 in short term repairs, as a matter of public safety.
However, city council has hinted they may imposed special property tax assessments on all the property owners who use Kentucky Avenue to access Country Village.
Sources:
Orange City agrees to fix private road
Al Everson, West Volusia Beacon Feb 5, 2020
Orange City will repair private roadway out of safety concerns
By Katie Kustura | Daytona Beach News-Journal
Posted Dec 23, 2019 at 1:21 PM Updated Dec 23, 2019 at 1:42 PM
Missouri
City, HOA agree on annexation plans for access to public sewage system
If all goes according to plan, homeowners in a 61-lot subdivision on the outskirts of Washington will soon be connected to the city’s sewage treatment system.
Meadowlake Farm’s community septic system is no longer functioning properly, and needs to be shut down. According to local reports, the HOA rejected a previous annexation plan with the city in 2014.
It seems that homeowners have had a change of heart since then, even though it means a tax increase for homeowners.
Washington city council is also planning to connect Meadowlake Farm to public water utilities in the near future.
Source:
Sewer Line Deal Reached With Property Owners
By Joe Barker, Assistant Managing Editor (eMissourian.com)
Feb 22, 2020
Ohio
HOA Treasurer under investigation for filing multiple liens on tornado damaged homes
Westbrooke Homeowners Association of Trotwood (Montgomery County) has had its share of troubles. For more than 4 years, the community has been in decline.
In 2016, homeowners complained that the community pool was too filthy to use, and its dilapidated clubhouse was an eyesore with peeling paint. At that time, many homeowners had long stopped paying their HOA fees.
The city of Trotwood chose not to get involved, calling the disputes between homeowners and their HOA a civil matter.
Then last May, a tornado ripped through Westbrooke, destroying numerous homes. As of February 2020, many of the homeowners still haven’t recovered from the disaster. Repairs were still underway, and some owners had not been able to move back into their homes.
That’s when the HOA treasurer decided to file HOA liens on 233 out 311 homes in Westbrooke.
Although the HOA technically has the right to enforce restrictive covenants and to collect unpaid assessments, it hardly seems reasonable to imposed thousands of dollars in fines, collection costs, and attorney fees on homeowners when they’re already struggling.
After WHIO aired a report on such draconian measures, Montgomery County Prosecutor launched an investigation of the HOA and its current treasurer.
Sources:
Liens imposed on Trotwood homes damaged by tornadoes, residents say
Published: Tuesday, February 11, 2020 @ 1:48 PM (WHIO)
County launches investigation into Trotwood HOA
Published: Thursday, February 20, 2020 @ 1:36 PM (WHIO)
Related on IAC:
OHIO HOA FORCING OWNERS TO PAY UP DESPITE FILTHY POOL, PEELING PAINT
May 18, 2016 ♦♦