I hate our HOA

IlovemyGeek

So they have made us resod twice this year once in January and once in July. Sod cost us 300 bucks and with everything else, DH forgot to pay the dues until last night. So now in addition to the 228 in dues we'll get spanked with a 25 dollar late fee AND an 18% fine on top of that a some of our new sod is dying (b/c St. Augustine doesn't do well in our neighborhood and it is the only type of grass we are allowed) so they may give us ANOTHER fine b/c of that. We bought the house under a different HOA and with less quarterly bills, the new one is just being jerks b/c so many houses are empty in this neighborhood. I hate that we haven't been able to buy anything for the baby yet b/c we keep having to resod the damn lawn.

sara_smile

WTH is HOA? How can they MAKE you resod your lawn?

IlovemyGeek

Home Owners Association. They hate us b/c we bought the house before we were married and I'm not about to pay to change the title to my married name. We've gotten in trouble for painting our house THE EXACT SAME COLOR it was before (to repair stucco cracks). We've gotten in trouble for weeds that weren't weeds they just thought ort edging was too low to the flower bed. If you don't fix what they tell you to, they issue a fine, if you don't pay the fine, they put a lein on your house. I hate them. I mean how stupid is it to demand new sod in January? That is the dry season in Florida, we spend like 90 bucks a month on water whenever we resod b/c you have to water every day to get it to stick.

mistywhite400

I would file a complaint or something.  If St. Augustine isn't growing after sodding 2x's, it's not going to grow! That's insane!!

kimilane

You should really read your HOA papers and make sure they have the right to fine you for the things they're fining you for. If it's not written in your agreement with them, they can't fine you for it.

Sorry they're making your life such a living hell. 

IlovemyGeek

They have been conducting RESEARCH on other grasses for a year now. Sigh and with the tiny FL lot lines if one neighbor gets cinch bugs, the entire neighborhood gets them. We thought hiring a lawn company would keep them off our back, but the grass still died. I hate having to pay a grand a year for a pool that we've never used.

IlovemyGeek

kimilane:

You should really read your HOA papers and make sure they have the right to fine you for the things they're fining you for. If it's not written in your agreement with them, they can't fine you for it.

Sorry they're making your life such a living hell. 

 

Ah in here is the problem. We have the original paperwork from when we bought the house, when the HOA changed, they claimed they sent us the new rules. They never did but, they won't send us a new copy without us paying 50 bucks for them. 

4realyo

i feel your pain. i hate HOAs!! i have a rental townhouse and the hoa is completely out of control. They hate having renters in the neighborhood so they harrass mine over every little thing & then I have to pay the fine. I cant sell the darn place because no one wants into the neighborhood because of the hoa. If only they would realize this instead of complaining about property values going down. It drives me mad.

IlovemyGeek

We used to joke the ONLY good thing about it was it kept our neighbors from painting their houses pink. Well they allowed the color pink in the color book and now we don't even have that going for us. I do not understand the need for people to live in houses the color of bubble gum.

SweetNatty

Can you attend a board meeting and make an official complaint? These charges seem really excessive and unfair. Plus, isn't the lawn supposed to be responsibility of the HOA?

I hope you'll be able to get this resolved.

Boizmom

This is exactly why we refuse to buy a house in a neighborhood that has an HOA.  They have way too much power and they abuse the power they've got. 

I'm sorry ya'll are going through this!!  I would hate to have re-sod that often too.

When you layed the new sod, did you prep the area first?  St. Augustine is highly suggested for areas like Flordia because it thrives in heat.  However it does grow slowly.  Here's a website with more information on it:  

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf/publications/staug.html

It does state to fertilize the first 3 months after planting/laying sod to help get it established.

Hope that some of this information helps.  (We just layed St. Augustine in the back yard and it's totally taking over.  We're in Texas.)

IlovemyGeek

They're fine crazy b/c they're trying to make up revenue, they don't care. I'd go to a meeting, but I am uh...not a people person and especially now I have lost my brain to mouth filter.

Ginkeez

HOA's are evil.  I'm all for having a nice-looking neighborhood but some of these HOAs are out of control, and I'm a little confused how they have so much power, because some things they do don't seem legal.  It's like a group of nosy neighbors that charge you an arm and a leg to make it seem ligit.

When we joined our neighborhood, they charged us an extra $50 "just because that's what they do".  Seriously. 

 There are so many beautiful neighborhoods out there that don't pay anything to be beautiful. 

Is anyone with me here?

IlovemyGeek

In Florida, there were very few developments that were nicer looking that didn't have HOAs when we looked. Our next house will be out of state for sure and we will not have an HOA LOL. They're epic evil. I mean how can they be THAT wrapped up in the fact that the title is in my maiden name?

smiles4ya

Do you have a register of deeds in your county?  Call them and see if you can get a copy of it from them.

IlovemyGeek

With the HOA our house is deed restricted, kinda sucks we wouldn't ever "own" our own house.

CrystaTony

I hate our HOA as well! I live in a condo community and it is horrible! 

cindydee

i thought the HOA fees you pay every month mean they will pay the maintance..otherwise what is the HOA fee for ????

IlovemyGeek

Oh I wish. I think our HOA pays for our gate, the pool area, and like the common areas to be mowed. I saw the budget for this year, they alloted 10K for mulch for the playground. They do jack squat for the actual houses.

thehoneybadger

It depends on the nature of the HOA itself. Some maintain the actual yards within the neighborhood others just require certain standards that you must maintain. We just bought a house in a subdivision. We are required to keep our yard to their standards.

ecfrazier22

That is exactly why we don't live in a neighborhood.  The HOA would have kicked us out for sure, LOL.  I just couldn't handle that, urgh!  You poor thing

Do they have rules about what your kids playing in the yard too?!  Geez! 

carladillon

I feel badly for you - HOA's in Florida are especially bad due to the retirees that have nothing better to do than police the neighborhoods.  We live in a condo with an HOA, but since it's a condo it's not quite as militant since they are responsible for the common areas/landscaping/outside of buildings, pool, etc.  When we get a house, we will definitely avoid one with an HOA - but like you said sometimes it's difficult to get a decent house in a decent neighborhood without one.  Good luck!