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Potentially losing $3500 because HOA did not vote on my remodel, so I have to wait a month. Help please!

Started by JL67 replies • 1820 views

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JL6 (California)
Posts: 16
Posted:
I have been planning a remodel of my condominium for over a month now, and it requires approval from the board. I have sent numerous emails to the HOA manager, and she failed to respond in time because of issues with another condominium complex, leading to my remodel not being voted on. Here is specifically what happened:

The meeting was at 6PM on the 27th of April. I first asked on the 17th of April what was required for the renovation. After a few days of no response, I sent another email on the 21st asking what was required. After more days of no response, I went and asked a few neighbors what they had submitted to get work done. I submitted all the information required via email on the 24th, and did not get a response. On the 25th, I received a call from the HOA manager saying she would get back to me by noon on the 27th, or for me to call her back if I hadn't heard from her. I didn't hear from her, so I called her numerous times, but she didn't pick up. When the meeting started at 6PM, the board said my remodel wasn't on the agenda. The board refused to vote to approve my remodel until next month's meeting, and I am possibly going to lose a month's worth of rent ($3500) because of it.

After some research, I found this in the CC&Rs:

The association shall make a decision approving or denying an alteration application at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting that occurs after receipt of all materials required or requested by the assocation, and it shall notify the applicant in writing of its decision within ten (10) days thereafter.

Also, there was a single document that the HOA manager had not asked for that is required. When I asked for everything she needed to go ahead with the remodel, she did not tell me she needed that form. I did provide all other documents requested by the the manager. Since I submitted all documents before the meeting, doesn't that mean the HOA failed to complete their duty by voting in the meeting?

Do I have legal recourse to start my remodel? Should I contact the HOA's legal representation if they still refuse to let me remodel until they vote on it? What are my other options? Thanks so much!
JimR24 (Texas)
Posts: 399
Posted:
Ummmm tough issue. My guess is that it wouldn't be appropriate for you to make contract with the Association's legal representation. If you decided to bring legal representation into this, i'm thinking it likely needs to be your own.

Just my $.02 worth.

oljim, in texas

Lovin' life with my honey!
and, President of HOA in Texas
DouglasK1 (Florida)
Posts: 2,046
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By JL6 on 04/29/2015 4:09 PM

Do I have legal recourse to start my remodel? Should I contact the HOA's legal representation if they still refuse to let me remodel until they vote on it? What are my other options? Thanks so much!

If you want to talk to a lawyer, you should talk to your own, not the association's. If you believe one thing and the association believes another, the final arbiter would be a judge, which would involve lots of lawyers, legal fees, and time. If you go ahead, the association might assess fines, place a lien on your property, and/or sue you. If this happens, it could cost you a lot more than $3500. I would suggest not going ahead until you have the agreement of the board.

Escaped former treasurer and director of a self managed association.
NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216
Posted:
PMs make mistakes or perform poorly every day of the week. That doesn't mean that anyone is entitled to be compensated. Everybody and his brother would be coming out of the woodwork with one claim or another if the hoa was in financial jeopardy every time a PM goofed.

The most important thing you said is that you reviewed your docs and.you found on your own.that a form was missing. Because that form was missing, The board had ample justification under your docs to defer your request to the next meeting. Do I disapprove of your board's decision - absolutely. But that's not the question you asked - you asked if you should be paid because the PM didn't give you the right information or was unresponsive about info that was always available to you without going to the PM. No matter how you slice it, you share responsibility for the delay.

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.
RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 163
Posted:
According to your post you submitted what you thought was everything on April 24th. Deadline for posting is April 23rd. They still would have had to have met prior to review the documents. The typical rule is a 45 day window for approval.
ND (PA)
Posts: 792
Posted:
JL6,

Tough situation. No matter how you slice it . . . bottom line is that you currently do not have approval to do the remodel. And based on the info you provided, it doesn’t appear that you fulfilled all of your responsibilities in providing ALL required info/docs (even if the management company is mostly at fault for being nonresponsive). So it may be that the Board won’t consider your request until they meet next month.

I see you as having a few options:
1) Start your remodel without approval.
2) Wait a month for their review (which may or may not result in approval at that time).
3) Try to work amicably with the Management Company and Board as much as you can immediately to see what can be achieved prior to their next meeting.

Option 3 seems the best to me. Unless your Board is completely unreasonable and ignorant to the fact that the Management Company appears to have failed you, they may be willing to work with you. Again, I wouldn’t be confrontational in this approach. If you do that . . . threatening legal action, pointing fingers, making demands, creating a scene . . . then they’ll clam up and shut you out. I’d try to reach out to the Board and explain your situation; explain the slow response from the management company; explain your potential loss of income; explain what you have done so far and what you have provided; detail your plans; provide completed documentation; and generally give them what they want as soon as you can.

They may not be able to officially approve until the meeting; however, you might get a good idea if it will or won’t be approved and what you may need to do to change your plans prior to them making the official decision. Perhaps that unofficial thumbs up will give you enough confidence to begin your remodel absent the approval, knowing that it will come soon . . . even this way though, there's still a risk that they end up not approving, but it's better than going at it blindly and without any sort of communication back and forth.

Good luck.
JimR24 (Texas)
Posts: 399
Posted:
Excellent advice by ND. I'd second all of what was said by ND.

oljim, in texas

Lovin' life with my honey!
and, President of HOA in Texas
PitA
Posts: 311
Posted:
STOP

dot your Is and cross your Ts

WAIT FOR APPROVAL

you can attempt to get approval before the next scheduled meeting by being nice as ND suggested

BUT

DO NOT proceed w/o written approval

Your covenants require approval.
Get it before proceeding.
If you feel you have suffered a financial loss caused by breach of contract/covenant you are free to seek legal redress.

HOWEVER

The HOA has 'deep pockets' and, probably, expert council on retainer.

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