HOA issue vs Neighor to Neighbor Issues

Started by PaulM30 • 5 replies • 611 views

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PaulM30 (B)
Posts: 41

Posted:

Is there a general rule of thumb for judging what is a neighbor to neighbor dispute, vs something the HOA should be involved in? I'm the HOA pres of a 15 unit building, with an extremely disengaged ownership. Our property manager recently got in touch to say that an owner is demanding that we send out an email to threaten fines for anyone who doesn't brush/groom their dog, due to dog hair found in the elevator and in the hallway. Our building allows up to 2 dogs, and we have a cleaner every week who vacuums the building. The only rules surrounding pets is that they shouldnt be a nuisance, left alone on decks/balconies etc. My instinct is that we have no way of enforcing this, only one owner (with a history of complaining) has complained about it, and it sounds more like they have a problem with a neighbors dog. I don't even think we should send out an email from the board asking people to groom their dogs, as i don't want the precedent set that the board basically becomes a conduit to forward gripes and complaints because our owners are too immature to speak to each other.

The same owner also wants us to email all owners demanding that owners cancel any home cleaning service they currently use, as it's a non-essential service while we're in lock down. Again, we have no way of monitoring or enforcing this, so I don't see it as an HOA issue. If owners wish to report eachother to authorities, they are welcome to, but I don't think it's something we need to be involved in, although I do personally agree that owners should do this.

Am I thinking about this the right way? I'm not completely against the board publishing guidance, or gentle reminders, but I don't see the point of attempting to govern things which we have no way of enforcing.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

There will always be one CCO (Chief Complaining Officer) so best to listen but ignore them. Now if one some reason they raise a valid issue, then treat it as you would anyone else raising such.

We had one of 112 owners that wanted us to stop landscaping as she did not "strangers" did not come on her property during the Covid crisis. We ignored her.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

We're a condo building too, Paul, and have some rules about what may be placed in hallways (basically, nothing per the fire marshal) nd that residents shouldn't shake their dust mops, cleaning cloths, etc. in the corridors. Do you have any rules for your hallways? How many units are on each floor?

Our hallway also are vacuumed & cleaned once a week, but we only have 5 units or fewer on each floor. Our elevators, however, are cleaned at least twice daily during "normal" times. Aren't your elevators cleaned more than once a week?? Especially, now?

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

When I was on the board, our general approach was to ask (1) does the complaint involve use, misuse or abuse of the common area (we're a townhouse community), and (2) have we received the same complaint from multiple people involving a specific homeowner.

If the answer to both questions is yes, we looked into it. If not, it's a dispute between neighbors and they need to figure out a way to fix it. If one answer was yes and the other no, we might monitor the situation to see if things escalate to where board involvement would be warranted.

Tell this lady you need more evidence of a problem and, by the way, the cleaning service issue isn't a HOA issue AT ALL, so if she has an issue with a neighbor, she needs to take it up with him or her.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

AugustinD
Posts: 5,144

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By PaulM30 on 04/10/2020 11:46 AM
an owner is demanding that we send out an email to threaten fines for anyone who doesn't brush/groom their dog, due to dog hair found in the elevator and in the hallway.

Have the manager tell the owner that (1) neither the Board nor manager can find a covenant that requires brushing or grooming one's dog; and (2) the HOA cannot take action without documentation (photos, film footage) of someone or their dog littering or similar.

Quote:

Posted By PaulM30 on 04/10/2020 11:46 AM
The same owner also wants us to email all owners demanding that owners cancel any home cleaning service they currently use, as it's a non-essential service while we're in lock down.

Have the manager write the owner that cleaning by an outside person is not known to be a non-essential service.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

I agree with you, ague, about housekeepers. I don't have a crew, but most residents in our condo building do. We're probably 50% over 60.

So, when we as a board closed our gym, pools, party rooms, etc., we also banned non-essential remodels, decorating crews, interior painters and the like to keep as many "strangers" out of our elevators as possible. But since housekeepers often are employed by older and sometimes very old people, we decided they could continue to come for the health of these elders-- that they are essential.

Our PM reports there seems to be far fewer crews (usually 2-3) coming, so maybe residents themselves don't want the risk.

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