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Wednesday, September 08, 2010

The Craziest Homeowners Association Bylaws

Deep inside, most homeowners despise their homeowners associations for their arbitrary rules and uncanny ability to send out nasty letters for the tiniest violations.

The Week rounds up the silliest rules to which homeowners subject themselves, including:
*Restrictions on how many rose bushes in the front yard.

*Forcing roofs to be constructed with shingles that perfectly match the neighboring homes.
*Disallowing the posting of "for sale" sings.

*Fining pet owners for walking their small dogs through a condo complex lobby rather than carrying them.

Because homeowners sign agreements that let HOAs put liens on their houses if they fail to comply, rule enforcement and appeals can get nasty.

What's the worst dust-up you ever encountered with an HOA?

Top 7 insane homeowners association rules

Source

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

there should be no such things as HOAs. they are the devil - power corrupts. my house, i bought it, its mine. we already have enough 'government' types trying to tell us when to breathe.

Anonymous said...

AMEN 9:34!!!

Anonymous said...

Having to join the Nithsdale circle of love is probably the most disturbing.

Anonymous said...

Ocean Pines is a friggin' nightmare

Anonymous said...

That's why I would never live in one of those community things - if you don't like looking at my clothes hanging on the line, please look the other way and stuff your HOA's.

Anonymous said...

9:44 refer that group to The book of Romans chapter one. " God's wrath against mankind".

Anonymous said...

A HOA in Hebron decided to force rules that were never legally filed and thus did not apply on a family causing great division in our community. The family auctioned their house and I last heard were renting. Rules & standards are necessary for society. Unreasonable rules & burdens for elitist folk need to go to Washington.

Anonymous said...

Why even care anymore, the houses arent worth crap anymore.

Anonymous said...

Most HOA rules are set by the developers so they can more easily market the houses while they build-out all of the lots. They don't belong once the houses are completed. It's impossible to get a majority of the owners to agree to change them though. I wish I had never bought a house in a development.

Anonymous said...

12:11 You don't know what you're talking about. That guy built a pole barn about as big as his house without submitting any plans to the HOA as is required and getting approval. And the covenants and restriction to which you refer were filed with the court by the builder when the community was being built.

Covenants and restrictions are provided to homebuyers before they even submit a contract so they can see what a community's restrictions are and decide if they can live with those restrictions. If the can't, they don't have to buy into that community. If they do, they abide by the rules. Very simply game.

Personally I wouldn't live in a community without a HOA. Too many hillbillies allow their houses and property to look like shit. All fun and games until you try to sell your house next door. Then when you can't sell it, or the value of your home is bad because of the condition of your neighbor's house, suddenly it isn't fun any more.

Anonymous said...

What people don't understand is that you need the HOA's to help the residents with any problems they encounter, and you need someone to control the upkeep of the common areas your neighborhood may have - such as ditches, pond areas, entranceways. Without HOA dues, who would pay for that upkeep?