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Old 12-09-2018, 06:12 PM
 
1,279 posts, read 840,132 times
Reputation: 2054

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I live in a large condominium building. Like homeowners' associations generally, it has a board of directors. The board sets rules for the building. I understand, based on first-hand evidence:

1. One director runs a brothel in her condominium. She lets prostitutes use one of her bedrooms, which is semi-separate from the main part of her condominium, for paid activities.

At the last annual meeting, this person was voted onto the board; the board members own enough condominiums in the building that they have been able to control the outcomes of recent elections (since they gather blank proxies from enough owners and use those proxies to vote for the board members' choices).

2. The board president goes off on diatribes against individual owners who are not at meetings, attacking them during board and annual owners' meetings, and using the F word and other profanity when describing them.

If you owned a condominium in the building, what would you think about this?

The condominium association is a corporation under my state's laws, and like boards of directors generally, the board is subject to "fiduciary duties" to condominium owners. Those duties include running the building in the best interests of the condominium owners generally and applying rules consistently to owners.
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Old 12-09-2018, 11:52 PM
 
1,663 posts, read 1,561,244 times
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So. Prove they violated either the bylaws of the corporation and sue them, prove they’ve violated the law, or move.

Your option.
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Old 12-10-2018, 04:37 AM
 
1,279 posts, read 840,132 times
Reputation: 2054
Quote:
Originally Posted by RoamingTX View Post
So. Prove they violated either the bylaws of the corporation and sue them, prove they’ve violated the law, or move.

Your option.
I can certainly do those things.

I’m curious what others think about the board’s behavior: would people be bothered by it?
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Old 12-10-2018, 09:45 AM
 
Location: Florida -
10,213 posts, read 14,737,263 times
Reputation: 21845
Condo HOA board positions are voted in and can be voted out at any time by the owners. Like you, I would certainly find the bizarre behavior of these individuals unacceptable. But, also like you, I am only one vote. If you wish to vote these two off your HOA Board, you will need to influence enough owners to vote them off.
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Old 12-10-2018, 10:01 AM
 
Location: Portland OR / Honolulu HI
959 posts, read 1,201,583 times
Reputation: 1869
Obviously no one would like that situation. But your choices are limited. If it were me, I would move. But if you want to fight, I’d suggest you do the following: Talk to other residents and build support/commitments from a majority of the unit owners to force action on the illegal activity in one unit and removal of board members who are in violation of association by-laws.

Then pay an attorney to draft a letter to the board demanding action on these items. Have the attorney send the letter directly to the board President.

You will find that people change their behaviors quickly and you initiate much more response when someone receives a letter from an attorney than you will get by simply raising your hand at a meeting.
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Old 12-10-2018, 10:45 AM
 
Location: Kansas City North
6,766 posts, read 11,394,388 times
Reputation: 16908
As long as the HOA finances are sound, and maintenance is being taken care of, I’m not sure I’d get all upset at the situation. If it continues to bother you, I’d see about contacting those absentee owners and get them on YOUR side. Just be prepared to take a position on the board.

How do you know there’s prostitution going on?
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Old 12-10-2018, 11:59 AM
 
13,395 posts, read 13,398,918 times
Reputation: 35709
Quote:
Originally Posted by PuppiesandKittens View Post
I can certainly do those things.

I’m curious what others think about the board’s behavior: would people be bothered by it?
It bothers you. The feelings of internet strangers aren't important. Are you looking for validation?
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Old 12-10-2018, 12:21 PM
 
3,253 posts, read 3,726,396 times
Reputation: 4460
If you have hard evidence there is a prostitution ring being run in your building, then provide the evidence to the police and the rest will likely take care of itself.

You are presenting some kinda hard to believe allegations as factual; If it is factual, it should be quite easy to have these person(s) removed from the HOA board.
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Old 12-10-2018, 12:22 PM
 
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
11,936 posts, read 12,993,985 times
Reputation: 27076
Is prostitution legal in your state? If not call the cops.

Is your building zoned for commercial and residential use? Turn them into the zoning board.

Knowing what I know about HOAs, I find it hard to believe they allow a business of any kind being run on premises.

Does the HOA allow for short term rentals?
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Old 12-10-2018, 01:12 PM
 
51,568 posts, read 25,482,936 times
Reputation: 37731
Quote:
Originally Posted by PuppiesandKittens View Post
I live in a large condominium building. Like homeowners' associations generally, it has a board of directors. The board sets rules for the building. I understand, based on first-hand evidence:

1. One director runs a brothel in her condominium. She lets prostitutes use one of her bedrooms, which is semi-separate from the main part of her condominium, for paid activities.

At the last annual meeting, this person was voted onto the board; the board members own enough condominiums in the building that they have been able to control the outcomes of recent elections (since they gather blank proxies from enough owners and use those proxies to vote for the board members' choices).

2. The board president goes off on diatribes against individual owners who are not at meetings, attacking them during board and annual owners' meetings, and using the F word and other profanity when describing them.

If you owned a condominium in the building, what would you think about this?

The condominium association is a corporation under my state's laws, and like boards of directors generally, the board is subject to "fiduciary duties" to condominium owners. Those duties include running the building in the best interests of the condominium owners generally and applying rules consistently to owners.
It think it is outrageous.

HOA boards are known for being nutty operations as they often attract unusual characters. Anyone who has ever lived in an HOA community can attest to that.

It is not unusual to have board members badmouth residents.

But running a brothel out of a back bedroom seems like a matter for the police.
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