Apartment/condos rented out...Federal Section 8

Started by DavidB35 • 5 replies • 1354 views

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DavidB35 (Texas)
Posts: 19

Posted:

This is out of curiosity-and also to answer owners....
There is a beautifully kept Section 8 complex a couple miles away from us. The grounds are beautifully kept. I do not know how many units are there. Just for 'matching' purposes, let's pretend it is 225 units, like ours.
Some owners here (Texas), are whining about " that low income apartment complex looks so much nicer than ours does-why don't you even make our place as beautiful as a low income place"?
Well, my answer is this:
"That is a Federally funded low income housing complex that gets guaranteed income for every apartment rented. I am willing to bet that they also get some kind of extra money for maintenance".

Our owners that cannot be bothered to come to monthly meetings, yet complain incessantly about everything from "the neighbor didn't close the top of the dumpster". "Why didn't you get 3/4" gravel-I don't like 1" gravel"....

These owners never came to HOA meetings for years-they have no idea that the past Board let units be anywhere from 6 months to 3 years without paying monthly HOA dues!! We now have almost 25% of owners behind in dues...which is where our operating mommies come from! Unbelievable! For both owners complaining and Past Board for letting this happen! And the lawyer.

Our current Board's job is almost insurmountable!

Anyway-can someone point me, let me know approximately or in some way answer how much complexes get from Federal (or any other programs), so I can give an educated answer to these owners who constantly complain that "the low income housing looks so much better than ours"

Thank you so much.

JohnB26 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,569

Posted:

as a previous apartment building owner in NYC:

50% of rental income goes (or should go) directly to fixed maintenance expenses

get the rents and suggest raising your dues to 50% of them

wear hearing protection for there will be SCREAMS

JanetB2 (Colorado)
Posts: 4,219

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By DavidB35 on 03/31/2014 4:29 AM
Anyway-can someone point me, let me know approximately or in some way answer how much complexes get from Federal (or any other programs), so I can give an educated answer to these owners who constantly complain that "the low income housing looks so much better than ours"

The association dues are the same for all owners within each HOA based on the governing documents!!! The possible exceptions regarding equality are possibly Condos where some owners with larger condos have larger dues and voting vs. others who have smaller condos and therefore smaller dues. However, for the most part in many states and associations all in each association are all equal. Therefore, this leaves me to believe that the complex which has the Federal program has a better board and better ran then your current complex. My advice ... seek and determine what they are doing right and make changes to your complex to improve and follow suit.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

It is simple as this: A HOA is ONLY funded by it's members FOR it's members. It is also managed/operated by it's members for it's members. So it goes to reason that a HOA with participating involved members no matter their personal financial status can have a well run and looking HOA. A HOA where the members are not organized or well funded by it's members, may appear less appealing.

I've volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. On some level they do operate similar to a HOA in the aspect of appearances. There are some rules and regulations just like any other property. It's just maybe those home owners appreciate a home and roof over their heads than others.

Former HOA President

CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563

Posted:

First, David, I think you'd receive more replies if you had a different subject line.

But the simple & true answer to homeowners is that your HOA is not collecting enough in assessments to make your HOA nicer-looking.

Meantime, has your current Board hired a collection attorney to properly go after those who aren't paying dues?

SG3 (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 63

Posted:

We have low attendance too. For the simple reason that people have given up. The board likes it this way. Unless they need money of course. They don't listen to us, do whatever they themselves want and people aren't even allowed to speak at meetings. Members know not to waste their time and energy. Can't really blame them.

So with the history you describe, they probably gave up.

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