Engineer Reports Deemed Unsafe

Hi.a few months back a newsletter was sent out stating 10 of our 19 buildings are unsafe and are in process of having the major repairs done in order of the most pressing first.should this major structural damage repair had been voted on by homeowners?

I forgot to ask as a lot of the homeowners have asked for the engineers reports on these 10 buildings and the board will not even acknowledged this question.

Please quote verbatim what your COA's bylaws say about owners' rights to review records.

So far I do not think South Carolina statutes give COA owners the right to see engineering reports.

Main South Carolina statutes for a COA:

SC Nonprofit Corporation Act
https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t33c031.php

SC Horizontal Property Act (thee SC Condo Act?)
https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t27c031.php

Kelly if you read Dawn's other post you will most likely hear her reply that she is "handicapped" and can't go to a meeting. We don't know more details if the HOA has already done those steps you outlined. It sounds like they may have as there was a vote for it on January 10th per previous statement. This sounds like could have been an in-person meeting?

I agree the HOA may not have to provide this information outside of an in-person meeting.

So this is an excuse to not attend and be involved? Our decisions are made at a HOA meetings. If your state allows you to attend, then attend. If not, don't manage the place from the stands. You elected these people to run the place on your behalf. If don't like it run yourself, vote them out, or vote for someone you want.

I don't track every thread so I missed Dawn's earlier point and that is unfortunate that she was unable to attend any meeting. That said, if the HOA board held the meeting, then it's working transparently if not perfectly to include all affected residents.

Dawn - this forum generally examines HOA policies and governance so we can come across "cold" in inquiring on certain questions.

You don't have to apologize for someone else.i just could not believe the rudeness and no respect for others as a human being .but thank you for the kind words.

I agree with Kelly - there should be a special homeowners meeting indicates the things and options. If there are a lot of elderly and disabled homeowners, This would be a good time to have the meeting via Zoom or another platform. A massive conference could also be an option for those who don't have internet access. If you can, I would still make an effort to attend That meeting - would a friend be available to assist you if mobility is an issue?

That said, you DO elect a board to make decisions and sometimes they have to be the adults in the room and make decisions people don't like. If people say "well , I'm on a fixed income and can't afford this," I understand the dilemma , but as Melissa nited, Surfside will always be an example of what may happen when people keep putting off necessary repairs. Houses and condos need maintenance and sooner or later, components wear out and must be replaced.

This is why reserves are important and why homeowners need to prepare their budgets accordingly. Trust me, I know how hard that can be - some incomes are more fixed than others!

I would suggest the board ask the engineer company to send someone who can make a presentation on the study, how it was put together and what it all means. People can then ask questions and that can be followed up with another homeowners meeting to discuss optiobs, including the dreaded special ass. It won't guarantee people will be happy with what they hear, but at least they'll be able to make an informed decision.

Edit. On my phone. Meant to say only half the building that remained standing should have been exempt from paying for the repairs? It does not work that way. All for one and one for all.

Why is this a fair housing issue? They were not denied buying a home. HOA does not provide housing. Show me where it is a HOA responsibility to be ADA compliant as well.

A HOA manages and owns common areas. It does not sell or buy homes. The common property is owned by all the members of the HOA. Now if I was to call out a fair housing or ADA complaint, then who pays? Well looks there ALL the members of the HOA even the complainer.

What hostile environment? The op is created their own for themselves. Sorry you want to hug everyone and let them ride your white horse.

Besides getting off topic. The issue as I recall is they wanted to see the engineering report. It was presented most likely at a meeting. Copies may not be available. One may have to make arrangements to view them IF they are allowed. How is this hostile? Just because not getting mailed to them for free?

Show me where it is hostile? Not getting a copy of a document on your terms is not hostile. Do not need to make special arrangements for anyone if those documents are not for member viewing. They were for discussion and vote.

You do realize you are wasting your breath? I've never once seen her admit when she is wrong even when confronted with irrefutable evidence.

See my post above where I told you to google on two subjects.

The 2 bedrooms like mine is $465 a month for regimes.the complex was built in 1983.

The 2 bedrooms like mine is $465 a month for regimes.the complex was built in 1983.the 3 bedrooms pays close to $600 a month.last year the board raised the monthly regime from $200 a month to $250 a month.this year the monthly went up from $250 to $270.a month plus the $165 a month extra for the special assessment for the next 12 months.

Look,I don't know why you are so angry at everyone you come in contact with,but sometimes it's better to say nothing at all..what I'm saying is we as homeowners have a right to know what is going on in our community.thats it.and what is the structural damages.c9uld my building be next?since you know everything you tell me?

Well because they are not part of the 10 buildings. Their building is good. I would request the report of my building.

The other buildings are dealing with the issue. They don't need anyone else looking over their shoulders when they are not directly effected. You know they need work done due to danger. What else need to know?

I am sure the HOA is just trying to limit the people from slowing the process down or demanding more of the same for them. Which does not sound like it was recommended.

I do not think playing Monday quarterback is going to change a thing.

Thank you sheila.no not $200 since 83,I've been here since 2004.it was $160 for several years,and then went to $180 then to 200 then to 250 and now 270 plus the $165 extra for the special assessment.in that length of time there has been one other special assessment and that was a $3000 at one other time.

It would be interesting for you to plug those numbers into the inflation calculator to see if your assessments are keeping up with inflation. Sadly, I have a feeling they aren't.
After the $300 special assessments (whenever that was), I would have hoped that would have prompted the board and the homeowners to be more realistic about costs. You've been there since 2004 - do you know if there have been regular reserve studies? Usually, they're done every five years - when was the last one done for your community?

Also, if the residents in the other buildings were allowed to vote on the special assessment are they paying more than everyone else because they live in that building as opposed to yours? If people in your building are concerned about paying a special assessment, that might be fairer - although if the situation were reversed, wouldn't you want everyone to pay because it IS a homeowner's association, after all, and everyone, regardless of their address, puts money in the pot to pay for upkeep and improvements to the common area?

I don't know how this is going to end, but if you're thinking you may get out of paying the special assessment, I doubt that will happen. In fact, depending on how much this one will cost, you may be looking for yet another one in the future. If you and your neighbors don't think this board is being fiscally prudent, you may need to consider rallying everyone together to vote in a new group, but that's not going to resolve things if the money's not there. The only way HOAs get money is through the homeowners and so you may be looking at assessment increases, special assessments and loans in the future - all of which will drive up your assessments even more. Good luck to you and your neighbors.

I'm not saying one word about the payments,I'm saying we have a right to know what's being done and what the engineer Reports said.i bet if the owners inat Surfside knew what the problems were they would not have rejected the special assessment.you have to be informed to make a rational decision.

Surfside was made up of multiple buildings. It was NOT just the one that collapsed. The one that collapsed was separate HOA wise. They had their own HOA but was part of a several building complex. The other buildings did not have any structural issues. So they would not have had a say or need to know about that building issues. The other buildings did their own inspections after the collapse.

I still don't see how Fair housing is part of this or if your handicapped. Your simply asking to see an Engineering report of 10 OTHER buildings that are NOT your own nor effected structurally. It's not like they have not already passed the special assessment already. You can't stop it nor should you.

This is just a curiosity thing and something to wag the tongue about. It is like going to church to hear that "Brother Bob" needs a pray for his recent surgery. You want to know what the surgery was for before you pray. Well don't think "Brother Bob" wants to talk about his prostate surgery...

Again did you see in a previous post where this was voted on in January at a meeting with only the 10 buildings? She is in one of the other 9 that is not in danger nor was part of that meeting.

This to me means that the information is being shared to those 10 buildings for a reason. They have an invested interest.

She may have an invested interest but that does not spell out must provide information if it is no longer up for debate. It also is not due to any special needs.

It may be they will have another meeting. The job of repairs is top of list to handle now.

Who says they have not? The OP may be requesting information that is not open or only shared via meeting. The OP wants a copy of something that may not be shareable or one has to make arrangements to view. Not going send a free copy out vie mail. It may not fit to email. May have to view it in person. Which if you want to site it is because one is handicapped is the reason no access does not sound like the case. Simply not being viewed because of HOA may not be sharing due to legal reasons or not proving copies for free.