Tag Archives: disability

Don’t count on your HOA to enforce nuisance rules

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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Do you believe that HOA covenants, restrictions and rules help keep a neighborhood looking neat and tidy, discourage your neighbors from behaving badly, and foster some sense of community? If so, read on. All too often, we hear reports of overly restrictive HOA enforcement of rules. HOAs have been known to fine and sue homeowners over trivial “violations of standards” that range from painting the front door an unapproved Continue ReadingDon’t count on your HOA to enforce nuisance rules→

Her dream condo was flooded by storm water — 4 feet deep

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Muddy roads after flood

By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities People don’t often think about flooding in landlocked neighborhoods, nowhere near a river or ocean. But storm water floods can cause a heap of damage, as Bonnie Miles, a retired Veteran in Roanoke, Virginia, recently learned. Miles was a first time home buyer as of September 1, 2018. When the remnants of Hurricane Michael dumped heavy rainfall in Virginia on October 11, four feet of flood waters destroyed Miles’ Continue ReadingHer dream condo was flooded by storm water — 4 feet deep→

Chicago Neighborhood Association fights against garage for disabled teen

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A Chicago neighborhood association wants Planning and Zoning board to deny a family’s request to build a garage to accommodate their daughter’s wheelchair. By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities On IAC, I write a lot of posts about mandatory homeowners and condominium associations that choose to deny disability accommodations. For some reason, some board members of HOAs resent the fact that residents with disabilities need reserved parking spaces, specially equipped vehicles in their driveways, wheelchair Continue ReadingChicago Neighborhood Association fights against garage for disabled teen→

Disabled woman stuck with bills for moldy condo

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Plumbing pipes wrench leak

Water was slowly leaking into her condo. But the disabled homeowner could not smell the mold until her unit was heavily damaged. By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Many people who buy into the condominium lifestyle do so expecting both affordability and ease of maintenance. But for 72-year-old Judy Young of Orlando, life at One Thousand Oaks Condominiums is neither affordable nor low maintenance. WFTV’s Karla Ray reports Young’s heartbreaking condo horror story. A water leak Continue ReadingDisabled woman stuck with bills for moldy condo→