JohnH38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 100
Posts: 100
Posted:
Here is the deal, it may have been addressed elsewhere if so please let me know.
When I purchased my lot in a gated community of 143 lots, my realtor explained that the assessment of $110 is higher than the $80 in surrounding communities with similar amenities but with 300+ lots. Made sense to me and the extra $30 I could absorb.
Now here comes the catch: owners of 5 of the 1/3 acre lots (we are a lot owner association) bought an adjacent lot and combined their two lots to build a larger dwelling onto both.
Now in SC and elsewhere I guess, any owner of 2 adjacent lots/properties can combine them for the purpose of consolidating their property tax bill (sum of the two). Our developer (Declarant) allowed these owners to pay only one assessment! All association records (!) can be examined by association members, but when I went to the "office" of the association asking to examine these letters, I was told by the property manager and the BOD that these are "personal letters" and they wouldn't allow me to examine them.
Except for lots still owned by the developer until the year 2025 all lots are subjected to the assessment, no exception made, as per our covenants.
These "personal letters" directly affecting the individual lot assessment ergo ought to be of public record, at least to othe owners, in my opinion.
Is the BOD overreaching here? Do I have a right to access said documents?
Your thoughts, JohnH38
When I purchased my lot in a gated community of 143 lots, my realtor explained that the assessment of $110 is higher than the $80 in surrounding communities with similar amenities but with 300+ lots. Made sense to me and the extra $30 I could absorb.
Now here comes the catch: owners of 5 of the 1/3 acre lots (we are a lot owner association) bought an adjacent lot and combined their two lots to build a larger dwelling onto both.
Now in SC and elsewhere I guess, any owner of 2 adjacent lots/properties can combine them for the purpose of consolidating their property tax bill (sum of the two). Our developer (Declarant) allowed these owners to pay only one assessment! All association records (!) can be examined by association members, but when I went to the "office" of the association asking to examine these letters, I was told by the property manager and the BOD that these are "personal letters" and they wouldn't allow me to examine them.
Except for lots still owned by the developer until the year 2025 all lots are subjected to the assessment, no exception made, as per our covenants.
These "personal letters" directly affecting the individual lot assessment ergo ought to be of public record, at least to othe owners, in my opinion.
Is the BOD overreaching here? Do I have a right to access said documents?
Your thoughts, JohnH38