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I would like to see what some condo owners would like for rules.
Please no posts that say " I would never live in an HOA or Condo" or" no rules" or "I would never live where they have rules." I want examples of rules that condo owners would like to have. Thanks.
Having been a condo board officer for several years who recently moved in part to get away from poor condo HOA practices, I'll take a swing at this.
In no particular order:
A statement that makes clear to all residents that the purpose of the rules is mutual protection (including physical security, financial security, etc.). Clear evidence in all the rules that this is the case (i.e. no trivial rules; no rules that don't have a good reason for being there).
Rules that specifically lays out the responsibilities and authority of the Board, including such things as guidelines for reserve studies, financial planning, reserve funds, etc. This text should specify that a minor portion of the Board responsibility is rule enforcement; the major responsibility is serving as a caretaker for shared property and finances. Perhaps even segregation of these duties.
A rule that requires all owners to sign a statement indicating that they received and understand the rules when purchasing a condo.
Rules that are clearly written and specify how violations will be handled. These rules should indicate how the various rules will be enforced and remove any liberty from the Board to selectively enforce the rules.
Rules that are reasonable in their enforcement and provide, where feasible, for progressive enforcement (notices, warnings, fines, etc).
Rules that are written with enforcement in mind. If a rule cannot reasonably be enforced, it should not be a rule. If there's not a good reason for a rule, it should not be present. (There can be guidelines or other things that might be useful to communicate, but rules are those things which are specifically enforced.)
I could probably come up with other ideas, but my primary personal experience is that rules, serving on the HOA board, etc., are fine and without incident 95% of the time. In that 5% of time, though, things get rough.
I wound up being so burned out on these things that I decided to move to a traditional house.
Having been a condo board officer for several years who recently moved in part to get away from poor condo HOA practices, I'll take a swing at this.
In no particular order:
A statement that makes clear to all residents that the purpose of the rules is mutual protection (including physical security, financial security, etc.). Clear evidence in all the rules that this is the case (i.e. no trivial rules; no rules that don't have a good reason for being there).
Rules that specifically lays out the responsibilities and authority of the Board, including such things as guidelines for reserve studies, financial planning, reserve funds, etc. This text should specify that a minor portion of the Board responsibility is rule enforcement; the major responsibility is serving as a caretaker for shared property and finances. Perhaps even segregation of these duties.
A rule that requires all owners to sign a statement indicating that they received and understand the rules when purchasing a condo.
Rules that are clearly written and specify how violations will be handled. These rules should indicate how the various rules will be enforced and remove any liberty from the Board to selectively enforce the rules.
Rules that are reasonable in their enforcement and provide, where feasible, for progressive enforcement (notices, warnings, fines, etc).
Rules that are written with enforcement in mind. If a rule cannot reasonably be enforced, it should not be a rule. If there's not a good reason for a rule, it should not be present. (There can be guidelines or other things that might be useful to communicate, but rules are those things which are specifically enforced.)
I could probably come up with other ideas, but my primary personal experience is that rules, serving on the HOA board, etc., are fine and without incident 95% of the time. In that 5% of time, though, things get rough.
I wound up being so burned out on these things that I decided to move to a traditional house.
Most of what you have here are in the bylaws and cc&r's.. I am looking for specific suggestions from personal experience. We just eliminated some bylaws that cannot be enforced. We are getting suggestions about garage doors left open, and inoperable and unlicensed cars so far. I am curious what other condos have.
Vehicle parking is a hotly debated subject and can vary depending on ones physical configuration. You say condos but imply units have a private garage. What is your arrangement?
We are standalone, individual homes. Each home has a two car wide driveway (some two cars deep) but not all homes have a garage. We have several street parallel parking pads with room for about 3 cars each. We do not allow overnight street parking. Our Bylaws prohibit parking a vehicle anywhere on ones property other then in their garage or driveway.
Non-registered, non-insured cars can be tricky. People will draw a difference between a derelict one and one say waiting for the owner to return from military service, school, snow bird, etc. Does it matter if the car has been sitting in the same spot for months be it registered or not? It does to us.
Our Bylaws say all vehicles must be registered (up to date license plate sticker) unless parked in ones garage. We have one owner whose son is in the military. The son's car has been parked in their driveway for several months but it has a valid plate registration. The Dad starts it up every few days. They keep it clean/washed. Not an issue with us. Where there not valid plates on it, we might have an issue.
No vehicle can be parked on a parking pad for more then 48 consecutive hours.
We have never had an issue with garage doors being left up. Most I have ever seen is someone working on something in their garage, leaving the door up for a few hours as they work. What are you issues?
Parking is probably the sore spot in my condo building.
I dislike rules however and wich everyone had common sense as what to not do. Unfortunately that is not the case and people definitely abuse things to the point where one person messes up and everyone suffers.
I knew someone who insisted on parking in someone else's space and then said "but someone took my space". Very childish. Someone taking his space gave him the right to take someone else's. That kind of thing should be addressed as well as any chance of someone blocking someone else in. And those people who like drivers to have a clear view of their home so they park vehicles in front of everyone else's home. Then those people have a problem finding parking for their extra cars and visitors.
Vehicle parking is a hotly debated subject and can vary depending on ones physical configuration. You say condos but imply units have a private garage. What is your arrangement?
We are standalone, individual homes. Each home has a two car wide driveway (some two cars deep) but not all homes have a garage. We have several street parallel parking pads with room for about 3 cars each. We do not allow overnight street parking. Our Bylaws prohibit parking a vehicle anywhere on ones property other then in their garage or driveway.
Non-registered, non-insured cars can be tricky. People will draw a difference between a derelict one and one say waiting for the owner to return from military service, school, snow bird, etc. Does it matter if the car has been sitting in the same spot for months be it registered or not? It does to us.
Our Bylaws say all vehicles must be registered (up to date license plate sticker) unless parked in ones garage. We have one owner whose son is in the military. The son's car has been parked in their driveway for several months but it has a valid plate registration. The Dad starts it up every few days. They keep it clean/washed. Not an issue with us. Where there not valid plates on it, we might have an issue.
No vehicle can be parked on a parking pad for more then 48 consecutive hours.
We have never had an issue with garage doors being left up. Most I have ever seen is someone working on something in their garage, leaving the door up for a few hours as they work. What are you issues?
We have private garages for each unit. We have a parking area for visitors.
We have a few people that open their garage door in the morning and leave it open all day.
Only 1 snowbird leaves their car and it is in the garage.
Parking is probably the sore spot in my condo building.
I dislike rules however and wich everyone had common sense as what to not do. Unfortunately that is not the case and people definitely abuse things to the point where one person messes up and everyone suffers.
No one likes most rules. That is why I let the entire membership vote on them, even though the board can do it on their own.
My biggest rule would be, if your neighbors can hear your music when they are in their own condo with windows closed, it is too loud.
Of course this rule would only be acceptable to people who are considerate to begin with. And, alas, it would also only work in a well-constructed building with decent soundproofing, which too few condos have -- I've been in a couple of buildings that were so horrible you could hear TALKING, never mind music.
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