Box Fan in window

New management company has sent us a letter stating we have to take a fan out of our bedroom window.
It's only there sometimes, during the summer. My son uses it at night and doesnt always take it sown during the day. But we have been living here for 26 years, and only now is a box fan in a bedroom window a fine-able violation of the rules and regulations.

"Nothing on any property shall be exposed to view from the street or common area that would be considered and eyesore, either in the front yard or behind any fence. This includes, but is not limited to, airing or drying of laundry, clothing, household furnishings, equipment or other items deemed by the Board of Directors to be unsightly"

I looked thru our CC&R's, By Laws and the Rules and Regulations, no mention of a simple box fan anywhere. Seems like a personal opinion to me and I think they are overreaching.

I want to appeal to somebody's good sense at the next meeting, but experience tells me that wont suffice. Iam wondering if I need something more "official" to present in order to avoid paying the fine.. (yes, the kid put the fan back in the window and it was spotted and noted a second time, hense the monetary fine). Would love to get it noted and recorded that a fan in a bedroom window on hot summer days is not an eyesore!

You are out of luck on this one. All you can do is ask for a FAVOR on the fine, there is no way you are going to win the right to use that.

We have a specific rule in our HOA prohibiting window fans. I think the rule as written in your association is too broad, though. Especially if anyone else has something that could be interpreted as being in violation. By that wording, someone could be in violation for curtains that someone else thinks are ugly.

Well, most places do specify certain colors of window treatments for the part that can be seen from outside, so 'ugly' doesn't come into the equation. It is broad, but it's common to be broad, and a box fan is not a wild interpretation of 'unsightly' similar to a/c units.

?..... paint the fan an approved color .....?

"Equipment" isn't permitted, RoyalP no matter what color.

We live in a wonderful neighborhood! We really like it here and hope the current management company doesnt ruin it with their go get um attitude. We are 93 "Single Family Units in a Planned Community". We dont share any walls. Im just bugged because for the past 25 years the fan in the window has not ever been an issue. And even though we have had it in the window on occassion during summer months, our neighborhood has continued to have very little home owner turn over and the neighborhood is highly desireable, property values havent been affected by our fan... its hardly the definition of an eyesore. It's just so irritating.

If it fell out, it and the screen in front of it would land on the roof above our garage. My point is that it's been in the window from time to time (we don't store it there!) for twenty five years, and still, we are a very desirable neighborhood. It is not a nuisance and it doesn't keep any neighbors in the vicinity from enjoying their property. (our neighbors barking poodle on the other hand!! totally different story. smh.)

Yep, that's why we're very specific in my HOA about what people can and can't have visible. I'd challenge it if it were me in this situation, and I'd include examples of what other homeowners have visible (whether they are actually unsightly or not to you isn't the point; the idea is that anything could be unsightly to someone). If your HOA wants to prohibit window fans, let them put in the work to update their rules to say that.

All of this. It will go one of two ways when you bring it up to the board. Either they want the management company to start enforcing these things and you are out of luck except maybe a waiver of the fine as a favor, OR they will agree with you and tell the MC that is not something they want to worry over.