Issues with HOA - please advise

Generally no, you can't stop paying. If you try, it could get very expensive for you very quickly.

If the leadership of your association is not managing it well, your best bet is to get involved and try to elect better ones next election. The main reason why associations are run poorly is owner apathy, nobody wants to spend their time doing the work that needs to be done.

Thanks DouglasK1 for the response. Can I at least see sue the HOA? The mayor's office told me to talk to the HOA association. I need to weigh all my options before getting an attorney. The cats are driving me insane.

Thanks Johnb. One is a rental and the other one my brother's who's away on vacation. Not breaking any laws.

I understand your frustration, but the Association isn't causing this issue - the neighbor is. You should also remember that your fees pay for a number of things besides maintenance. This isn't like you're paying and not getting ANY services, and even if that were the case, you still don't necessarily have a right to withhold payment. Before anyone takes that route, they need to check their documents and perhaps talk to a private attorney. Otherwise YOU get sued and wind up paying what you owe, court costs and attorneys fees.

Normally, I'd say sue the neighbor if you can prove her feeding the cats is causing these problems, but if she's mentally unbalanced (which could mean different things to different people), that may not be of much help. Have any of your neighbors also complained about the cats - if so, all of you should go to the next board meeting and demand a better response. It seems to me this woman feeding the cats is a nuisance to the other neighbors and if it's affecting several people, the board has to intervene. Take some photos as well (time and date stamped) - if a lawsuit of some sort ensues, you'll have even more proof to help your case.

Animal control might not be able to cart away the cats, but are there any organizations that care for feral cats? We have an organization like that in Indy and they can set traps to catch the cats, spay or neuter them and then return them to the wild, so to speak. We also have a city ordinance that states that people who insist on feeding stray cats have to pay to spay/neuter them and get their shots - I don't know how effective it is, but you can check with a Humane Society or other animal welfare organization who may have suggestions. It may come down to you applying cat repellent frequently so the cats will at least stay away from your area.

Regarding the towed cars - try sending a formal letter to the property manager (copy to the board if they have a separate address) and explain what happened with the cars. Note the date and time you called the property manager to inform them that the cars were in your spaces with your permission and see what happens. Send it certified, with a return receipt requested to make sure someone has to sign for it. If that doesn't work, see if there's some sort of homeowner association ombudsman or consumer protection division in your area who might assist you.

You may very well end up in small claims court but I think it's easier and faster to try to resolve it on your own before you go that route. And if you have to sue, you'll have evidence that you tried to resolve the matter without going to court, but the Association was unreasonable. You might also want to go to the next board meeting and discuss the matter - it might get resolved quickly and you can also suggest to the board homeowners DO have friends and contractors visit from time to time and they might use those spots with the owner's permission. As long as they're not parking in someone else's space or monopolizing the guest parking, what's the problem?

Good luck!

With others, do not stop your payments--that could end badly for you!

Calling animal contrail is a good idea.

Sheila gives good advice too about the cars.

Sure, you can sue anybody for anything. Whether you will win or not is another matter. Even if you win, suing is likely to be expensive so it might not feel like winning. Talking to an attorney will be your first step, they can outline your options. If your whole building signed a petition, are any of the also willing to chip in for the attorney/lawsuit?

Ellen : after you figure out whether you are subject to a "HOA" environment net or a "condominium" environment or neither, you need to track down the compliancing sections of whichever. It would be shocking if you had the right to withhold periodic common fees or rent or whatever you are paying.

Some truly disturbing cats have been given the boot in our jurisdiction ( along with $22k in costs in one case ). But - in the Supreme Court - no such boot to one despite total pet prohibition in Declaration of a highrise after 10 quiet years. The Staib cat was discovered merely by chance by a super checking plumbing. But don't try withholding fees.

Catnap Boxes in the corridors ? Do you have a fire department or do all owners have nine lives ?

Jon mentioned the Board of Health, which is a great idea (I'd forgotten about them). It seems to me this has to be some sort of health hazard they can address. These cats probably poop everywhere and that can attract vermin, the cats could contract rabies and attack some and when they're in heat, there's spraying everywhere and a whole lot of noise. Not only that, if this lady is feeding cats, what's to stop other vermin from joining in (rats, raccoons, possums, etc.) all of which bring in another set of problems.

Nps's suggestion about calling the TV station or newspaper (or both) is also a great idea. I'd also call my local city council representative - sometimes he or she can lean on a city agency to do something. Tell him/her you're also thinking of calling the papers or TV station and that could provide additional motivation.

In the end, I think you and your neighbors may need to consider booting the current board and replacing them because this bunch doesn't sound like it has any backbone. If they sued this neighbor, maybe you'd find out once and for all if she really has a mental health issue or is simply eccentric.

$10 bag of cat dog repellent and a small fence with a notice of it's application worked for me...