Real Estate & Property Law

What Can You Do When the HOA Board Does Not Enforce the Rules?

This is a hot topic. The question sent to me is:

""What can I do about a board that does not enforce the rules? They won?t do anything about people disobeying the rules because they are afraid of retaliation. As a 20 year homeowner, what can I do and where do I start?"

There are many ways to attack this problem. But first, understand that board members are volunteers, they have their hands full these days just trying to keep their HOA or Condo Association "afloat", and they can use help.

So, first, get educated about rules. There are 5 "Enforcement" Primers available on my website for $25 each that will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about rules and enforcing them. And forms to boot! These Primers are intended to assist boards in setting rules and policies that are reasonable, and they being able to enforce them!

Second, run for the board! If you want to help, get your hands in the pot. If you want to know what the board responsibilities are there are two Primers on the website relating to Board Basics (responsibilities) - I (basic) and II (intermediate). There is also an Operations Primer and an Ops forms Primer to assist with operations.

Chronic complainers (about rules enforcement) can become part of the problem. Become part of the solution! Get involved in the leadership in your association. If you are not willing to do that, then at least keep your corner "clean".

Full post as published by California Condo & HOA Law on July 27, 2010 (boomark / email).