What happens if I don't pay my Homeowners Association fees?

[mr4ward]

I just wanted to thank everyone for all the posts. I think that HOAs are stupid and with the cost of everything else going up who can afford them. I live in a city where the city enforces all of the codes. They do a really good job and I have not had a issue of anyone not cutting their grass or leaving trash outside. No one that lives around me has a dog. I have a German Sheppard but she only barks if someone is actually outside and she stays inside so that is not a issue. Here is my issue. There trying to start a HOA. The city is tired of keeping up with the area and is asking that we start one. We actually had a woman that stood up and was backing them and wanted to start one. HOW do you start one and how do us as a homeowner block one from being started?

[ucfjtm]

Originally Posted by mr4ward

HOW do you start one and how do us as a homeowner block one from being started?

I asked this same question when a family member was going through the same thing. It may not work this way in Florida, but their real estate attorney stated:
If you never agreed to one when you bought the house, you cannot be forced to abide by one. You're only required to follow city codes.

You'll need to check with your local/state laws on the issue, but basically as long as you stand by your decision that you'll never sign up for an HOA, you'll never be a part of it (unable to use shared community resources, but unable to be hassled with for non-city code issues). That of course won't stop your neighbors from treating you like the devil until you either give in and agree or move out of the neighborhood, but I doubt it would come to that if you're a respectful neighbor.

[Dee2e]

Originally Posted by ucfjtm

I asked this same question when a family member was going through the same thing. It may not work this way in Florida, but their real estate attorney stated:
If you never agreed to one when you bought the house, you cannot be forced to abide by one. You're only required to follow city codes.

You'll need to check with your local/state laws on the issue, but basically as long as you stand by your decision that you'll never sign up for an HOA, you'll never be a part of it (unable to use shared community resources, but unable to be hassled with for non-city code issues). That of course won't stop your neighbors from treating you like the devil until you either give in and agree or move out of the neighborhood, but I doubt it would come to that if you're a respectful neighbor.

Deed restricted communities at the time of development. Your attorney friend is correct.

[RelocatorNYtoFL]

Rent your house to some 'crackheads' that will fix the problem...JUST A JOKE... HOA are the worse thing to have, I was the president of one and it was terrible. There is no respect in ORL, reason why I will move out back to NY....

[morningstarr]

Like everyone is saying pay you HOA. I had a neighbor, who had chicken, two dogs, the HOA did not care, I called the code enforcer, I kept calling, I can tell you this, barking dogs, your neighbor will be paying money, every time they have to come out, the birds, they can't do anything about that. well I sold my home this year, and moved.

[Dee2e]

Originally Posted by morningstarr

Like everyone is saying pay you HOA. I had a neighbor, who had chicken, two dogs, the HOA did not care, I called the code enforcer, I kept calling, I can tell you this, barking dogs, your neighbor will be paying money, every time they have to come out, the birds, they can't do anything about that. well I sold my home this year, and moved.

HOAs can only address things specific to the covenances of the HOA documents. They cannot enforce laws. For example, if they have a selection of paint colors for the outside of your home and a requirement that you get HOA approval before painting and you just paint it without regard to the documents, the HOA can fine you as defined by the HOA docs. If your neighbors pets cause issues, then it's up to the local ordinances to enforce the law in that community.

HOAs cannot enfore law, only covenances in there documents, which are approved by the local community before they are accepted and registered as a deed restricted community.