Breaking the HOA rules

[Hillary Gross]

How can I get my Home Owners Association on board with the concept of reducing or eliminating the front lawn requirement that has been the rediculous rule for so long here in Florida ? Any advice is welcome.

[Julia Ward]

My better-half has been a CAM for over 15 years. You would have to go to one of the Association meetings and have the Board vote on it. It could take some time if there is quite a bit of opposition. The opposition will say that if there aren't standards that the value of their home will be reduced by the "poor" front lawn of their neighbor. You are probably not only governed by the Association but in addition required by "deed restrictions" to meet certain standards and not allowed to have sheds or trucks or a car backed into a parking spot - the list goes on and on and on. Most Associations are quite inventive when it comes to restrictive covenants..

All to insure the value of your neighbors property.

Good luck.

blessings,
julia

julia ward - a BLINDING heart - a writer's blog - www.ablindingheart.com

[Barbara Lockyer]

I agree...I really wish they would do away with these! How did we survive all those years without them????
I am on our board, as is my husband, but we have managed to change the complexion of the management
a little. Before it was gestapo in nature...now it is totally different...my husband is the president and he observed
the way I was treated by one of the then board members. He vowed to create a new atmosphere. It was a while
before happening but much improved now.
Personally, I think we could do without one but it is governed by the state laws to some extent...yes, there are
state statutes for the management of HOA....to benefit everyone, I guess.

[Michelle W. Flannery]

I have never lived under the covenants of an HOA. I used to work in real estate, so I am familiar with some of their rediculous requirements. But they vary. I'm not sure what the issues are you wish to challenge. Maybe you can elaborate on that for us. But the best stance in any situation like this is to have as many people as possible on your side. It usually starts with a petition, followed by a show of bodies at a meeting. Again, I don't know what issues you are challenging, but right now the best argument for any situation (if it fits) is the current economic situation in our nation: what's financially reasonable? what's "green/ecologically" best?

Change is always possible when someone is intent on it. If the HOA board won't listen to you at first, go to the people in your neighborhood. One at a time if you have to, and convince them of your argument. Once they understand, they may be more easily supportive and sign a petition. Good luck.

[Hillary Gross]

Those are really great points, Michelle. Thanks for the advice. What I would like to change in our HOA rules is to eliminate the requirement that there be a certain amount of grass in each property. Here in Florida we are always having to be concious of water restrictions but people still want to have a perfect green lawn which is so wasteful. If there is a tasteful way of reducing or eliminating the amount of grass, and still have a nice looking property, then I think that would be way better if the alternative plants are more environmentally friendly than grass.

[Michelle W. Flannery]

You're right Hillary. That's rediculous to require grass only lawns. Are they trying to create stepford homes? Same size, same color scheme, with identical lawns? It's overcontrol. And personally, I feel that HOA rules are based on the personal preferences of the most vocal person on the board at the time the rule passes.

In any case, your argument is the current water restrictions. Are you in an official "drought" status? How long has/have the drought/water restrictions been applied? If it is state or region wide, what are the public regulations/suggestions about it. This is your argument Hillary. Water conservation. Apply any regional guidelines that are being recommended by state and local governments. Argue for drought tolerant plants and wider walkways, or whatever works to support your stance. It's ecologically sound to make these changes, and conserves water - which is of primary importance in a drought/water restrictive age.

[Karen of Georgia]

My husband and I are from the Northeast and these do not exist up there..............yet. Imagine our surprise when we had these people at our door the first month we moved in. Whining about everything from trees being cut down (the property was overgrown and overrun) to a shed we put way back on our property (for the lawnmower and gardening tools).
Our house had been rented for 5 years before we moved in and my husband finally confronted the people from the architectural committee and told them that if they did not like what we were doing to improve the property, we would be happy to put it back the way it had been..........................we ceased to hear from this committee again.
I wouldn't dare put a garden in my front yard though. People in my neighborhood are nasty enough as it is. HOA's are silly!

[Michelle W. Flannery]

Good for you Karen! HOA's are rediculous!