How can your HOA screw thee, let us count the ways
They can screw thee to the breadth and depth and height
Their souls can reach….
With apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Just when I think I have heard it all, just when I can’t imagine any more shady and ridiculous behavior, HOAs get creative and come up with more ways to circumvent decency and fair play and get what they want.
Joining us On The Commons this week we have David Kahne. David is a Texas attorney who, as part of his practice, represents homeowners embroiled in legal battles with their HOAs. He has also been a strong advocate for legislative change to protect the rights of homeowners. We will talk about some of the issues Texas homeowners are facing, hear just a little bit about some really outrageous behavior by boards and the professionals who advise them and talk about possible ways to prevent some of the more heinous behavior. Tune in and you’ll be scratching your head wondering if you have heard it all or if someone is designing yet another way “to screw thee”.
It is no secret that life in an involuntary membership corporation is anything but serene and calm and it certainly is not fair. In fact homeowners more often than not find themselves alone when in a conflict with the association. The laws are tilted very heavily in favor of the association and the association usually gets away with unbelievable abuses. But what if some of the laws were more consumer friendly? What if there were laws that actually regulated some of the abuses, heavy handed tactics and bad behavior that is so common? What will it take to get some of these laws enacted?
Joining us On The Commons this week we have Marjorie Murray. Marjorie is the Founder and President of the Center for California Homeowner Association Law. She maintains an excellent web site at www.calhomelaw.org We’ll talk about the legislation members of her organization and the partnerships they formed managed to get enacted. We will also learn how these consumer friendly laws are altering the outcome of controlled housing in the California courts. We’ll also get some tips on how to lobby successfully in our own states.
After half a century of mass produced involuntary membership associations, the ignorance still surrounding them is quite astounding. The lack of knowledge about the product of both the professional and voluntary leaders and apparent lack of buy-in from the consumers is turning residential America into a disaster. A disaster that has dire and far reaching consequences for the future of the country.
While mandated by local municipalities for their own financial gain and supposedly regulated by state statutes, the instruction manual accompanying this housing catastrophe is being written by every Tom, Dick and Harry who feels like chipping in their two cents worth.
What is the answer? Full steam ahead as we have been going until we end up in a heap somewhere down the road?
Joining us On The Commons this week we have Ole Madsen. Ole lives in North Carolina where he started an organization called HEAR4NC which stands for Homeowners for Education, Advocacy and Rights for North Carolina. Ole is the president, CEO and only voting member of the corporation with an appointed advisory committee. Ole recognized the need for education and changes in involuntary membership corporations about 18 months ago, so he and his fellow HEAR4NC members have set up open meetings around the state to meet with homeowners and share their knowledge and expertise. We’ll talk about the meetings and learn a little more about the monthly meetings.
News and Views About Homeowner Associations
