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PatJ1 (North Carolina)
Posts: 568
Posted:
Stacked condos, 42 years old, 2 story, 20 buildings, 144 units.

New R&R’s released. Subject is not covered in CCR’s or By-Laws.

Previously, when an owner wanted to install a screen door at their entry door, they would file an ARC request per the CCR’s. The HOA requested that they be a certain color.

New board doesn’t like the un-uniform look of 62% of the units having them while the others do not.

New R&R is that everyone will have one. Owners have until 12/31/24 to install one. If not installed by then, the HOA will install and bill the owner.

I’ve already determined that this is beyond the HOA’s reach but wanted some input. I already have one. Wouldn’t live without it.

This announcement comes after a vendor they hired destroyed our pool and caused $100,000-$150,000 in damages. Pool closed for season or beyond, and is a pile of rubble. But that's a whole other post.
ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 4,420
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By PatJ1 on 05/10/2024 9:46 AM
Stacked condos, 42 years old, 2 story, 20 buildings, 144 units.

New R&R’s released. Subject is not covered in CCR’s or By-Laws.

Previously, when an owner wanted to install a screen door at their entry door, they would file an ARC request per the CCR’s. The HOA requested that they be a certain color.

New board doesn’t like the un-uniform look of 62% of the units having them while the others do not.

New R&R is that everyone will have one. Owners have until 12/31/24 to install one. If not installed by then, the HOA will install and bill the owner.

I’ve already determined that this is beyond the HOA’s reach but wanted some input.
I agree with you. To review: The Board can only operate within the four corners of the CC&Rs, Articles of Inc, Bylaws and statute. The board is outside these governing documents. It lacks the legal authority to require screen doors.

"A+" for the quality of your post. It presents all the needed facts; does so concisely; and uses periods and paragraph breaks appropriately.
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
I agree. Beyond their scope.
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
I also agree. If the screen door is by owner choice, then it's also their choice not to have one. This is different from mandating a particular color and style if an owner does choose to get one.

By the by, I'm also in condos, two story buildings, with private entrances. Some of us have screened doors, others don't. I personally leave the glass in mine year round. But our doors are already different colors: 5 chosen by the original builder, and then 5 more chosen by a recent board that was under the misapprehension that they have good taste (*). The new colors are more glaring than the difference between screened or not screened.

(*) Yes, that was snarky. I stand by my comment.
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
Also, how do your CC&R's define the exterior doors: are they part of the unit or part of the common elements? IMHO, if it's the latter, they can probably buy screen doors *at the association's expense* because they would be more common area (*). If the former, then they can't legally force anyone to buy them, the same way they can't force anyone to buy upgrades to the interior of their units - and they can't pass on the expense, because the new screen doors would not be common elements. R&Rs don't carry the legal weight of the CC&Rs and can't override them.

(* It's questionable whether this would be a capital improvement requiring owner approval or not.)

Lord save us from boards that invent problems where there aren't any. Surely there are more worrisome issues. How are your reserves looking? And how are your insurance premiums these days? And things of that nature...
PatJ1 (North Carolina)
Posts: 568
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By CathyA3 on 05/10/2024 1:29 PM
Also, how do your CC&R's define the exterior doors: are they part of the unit or part of the common elements? IMHO, if it's the latter, they can probably buy screen doors *at the association's expense* because they would be more common area (*). If the former, then they can't legally force anyone to buy them, the same way they can't force anyone to buy upgrades to the interior of their units - and they can't pass on the expense, because the new screen doors would not be common elements. R&Rs don't carry the legal weight of the CC&Rs and can't override them.

(* It's questionable whether this would be a capital improvement requiring owner approval or not.)

Lord save us from boards that invent problems where there aren't any. Surely there are more worrisome issues. How are your reserves looking? And how are your insurance premiums these days? And things of that nature...

Per the CCR’s,

The decoration and painting
of the exterior surface of doors and window
frames shall be the responsibility of the
Association, as hereinafter defined.

All doors, window frames, panes and screens are part of the respective condo units and shall be maintained by the respective unit owner.

No Owner of a Condominium Unit shall permit
any structural modification or alteration to be made to
such Condominium Unit without first obtaining the
written consent of the Association, which consent may
be withheld in the event that a majority of the Board
of Directors of the Association shall determine that
such structural modifications or alterations would
adversely affect or in any manner endanger the
Condominium in part or in its entirety. No Owner shall
cause any improvements or changes to be made on the
exterior of the Condominium (including painting or
other decoration, or the installation of electrical
wiring, television or radio antennae or any other
objects or machines which may protrude through the
walls or roof of the Condominium or in any manner alter
the appearance of the exterior portion of any building
without the written consent of the Association being
first obtained. Not Unit Owner shall cause any object
to be fixed to the Common Property or to any Limited
Common Property (including the location or construction
of fences and the planting or growing of flowers,
trees, shrubs or any other vegetation) or in any manner
change the appearance of the Common Property or Limited
Common Property without the written consent of the
Association being first obtained.

I retired 2 years ago and the rest of the board followed. In those 6 previous years we spent over $700,000 on the maintenance and security of the buildings. Roofs, railings and such. Just before leaving we began to build back the Reserve Account. Rebuilding the pool will wipe out our Reserves if the vendor's insurance denies the claim.

I fear for our Master Policy insurance. 12 years ago we received a non-renewal, but they reconsidered. Switched insurance companies 4 years ago with only 2 carriers even offering to insure. A year ago, they placed a claim for $27,000 for water damage. Our deductible is $10,000. We should have paid out of the operating funds rather than filing that claim to help preserve our insurability.

New appointed board took over in January. None of them have lived here for over a year. Out with the old and in with the new is their motto.

They don’t believe in Reserves.

CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By PatJ1 on 05/10/2024 5:28 PM

Per the CCR’s,

The decoration and painting
of the exterior surface of doors and window
frames shall be the responsibility of the
Association, as hereinafter defined.

All doors, window frames, panes and screens are part of the respective condo units and shall be maintained by the respective unit owner.


No Owner of a Condominium Unit shall permit
any structural modification or alteration to be made to
such Condominium Unit without first obtaining the
written consent of the Association, which consent may
be withheld in the event that a majority of the Board
of Directors of the Association shall determine that
such structural modifications or alterations would
adversely affect or in any manner endanger the
Condominium in part or in its entirety. No Owner shall
cause any improvements or changes to be made on the
exterior of the Condominium (including painting or
other decoration, or the installation of electrical
wiring, television or radio antennae or any other
objects or machines which may protrude through the
walls or roof of the Condominium or in any manner alter
the appearance of the exterior portion of any building
without the written consent of the Association being
first obtained. Not Unit Owner shall cause any object
to be fixed to the Common Property or to any Limited
Common Property (including the location or construction
of fences and the planting or growing of flowers,
trees, shrubs or any other vegetation) or in any manner
change the appearance of the Common Property or Limited
Common Property without the written consent of the
Association being first obtained.

I retired 2 years ago and the rest of the board followed. In those 6 previous years we spent over $700,000 on the maintenance and security of the buildings. Roofs, railings and such. Just before leaving we began to build back the Reserve Account. Rebuilding the pool will wipe out our Reserves if the vendor's insurance denies the claim.

I fear for our Master Policy insurance. 12 years ago we received a non-renewal, but they reconsidered. Switched insurance companies 4 years ago with only 2 carriers even offering to insure. A year ago, they placed a claim for $27,000 for water damage. Our deductible is $10,000. We should have paid out of the operating funds rather than filing that claim to help preserve our insurability.

New appointed board took over in January. None of them have lived here for over a year. Out with the old and in with the new is their motto.

They don’t believe in Reserves.


Ah, but do the Reserves believe in them? :-) Do your state statutes governing your type of community say anything about this?

I hear you about inexperienced board members who approach the job with an abundance of confidence coupled with a lack of knowledge. We're cleaning up messes right now, and it's amazing how much trouble a board can get into in less than a year. Unfortunately it can be almost impossible for owners to turn around incompetent boards without getting themselves elected in their place.

Anyway about your screened doors, the quoted parts in bold above seem to be contradictory unless they view painting and "maintaining" as separate things. Depending on the materials being painted, the paint can be protective (ie., "maintenance") and not just decorative - so I'd consider painting to be maintenance and thus owner responsibility.

FWIW, in our community the addition of screened doors and screened-in patio/porches both require approval from the association. But they're routinely approved as long as they comply with basic requirements on style and color. Per our CC&Rs the exterior doors and windows are part of the Unit, and owners maintain, repair, and replace them. Porches, patios, and decks are Limited Common Elements but are also maintained by the owner of the Unit to which they are attached. The association doesn't pay for any part of this work except for things that are structural supports for the buildings (ie. Common Elements).

PatJ1 (North Carolina)
Posts: 568
Posted:
They are still pushing this.

I’d like to challenge them or find someone who will since this isn’t my battle. I already have one. But this new board has destroyed our community physically and emotionally in 3 months.

They have fired 5 vendors, destroyed our landscaping, and, because of their lack of knowledge, totally destroyed our pool. No pool this year or next as insurance or lawyers fight it out. If we don't win, the $200,000 to fix the pool is on us.

The front door belongs to the owner.

The door frame also belongs to the owner as it is not structural, and not common property, but necessary to hang the door. (A rotted door frame would be the responsibility of the owner, not the HOA)

Storm doors are attached to the door frame which belongs to the owner.

Therefore, the HOA is overreaching its authority to require that owners install storm doors which attach to the owner responsible door frame.

Am I on the right track in my thoughts?
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
Quote from the CC&RS:

" All doors, window frames, panes and screens are part of the respective condo units and shall be maintained by the respective unit owner. "

As long as there isn't anything else in your CC&Rs that contradicts this, I don't see how the HOA can force an owner to buy something that is part of the unit. This isn't the same thing as having approval over the item *if the unit owner chooses to buy it*.

How many of your fellow owners will be forced to buy a screen door? Any chance you can get together and push back? If there are enough of you, you may be able to pool your money and pay a lawyer to write a "knock if off" letter to the board.
PatJ1 (North Carolina)
Posts: 568
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By CathyA3 on 05/26/2024 10:34 AM
Quote from the CC&RS:

" All doors, window frames, panes and screens are part of the respective condo units and shall be maintained by the respective unit owner. "

As long as there isn't anything else in your CC&Rs that contradicts this, I don't see how the HOA can force an owner to buy something that is part of the unit. This isn't the same thing as having approval over the item *if the unit owner chooses to buy it*.

How many of your fellow owners will be forced to buy a screen door? Any chance you can get together and push back? If there are enough of you, you may be able to pool your money and pay a lawyer to write a "knock if off" letter to the board.

Can't find anything. I don't think the new board actually knows what common property, limited common property, and owner property is.

They destroyed our pool, but we are having a "movie night". And a food truck over the summer to make up for it.

55 owners don't have screen doors. We are mostly lower income and a retired community. $600 for a required screen door on top of everything else is insulting.

I'll encourage them to pool $50 each and see if they'll collectively spring for a lawyer. I may even contribute on principle even though I already have a screen door.

That's all I can do.
DeanJ
Posts: 1,786
Posted:
Requiring a homeowner to spend money on a storm door is an assessment vs a regulation. The question is does your board have the authority to assess you if you refuse to follow a regulation. I don’t believe they do. If you fail to comply with a regulation, a fine is the HOA recourse.

The question is do you want to go to court over a $500 storm door. Your board is betting you won’t.
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
Did I review this entire post too quickly? If so, I missed the actual verbiage from the Board that requires these screen doors.

Please, Pat, supply the wording of the new R&R that owners received. Was it sent via US mail" Or?

Please also supply the approved open meeting minutes wording when the Board voted to make this decision.

Mind you, Pat, I agree with you & others that your CC&Rs do NOT permit the Board to make this new Rule & Reg. (this is NOT the type of thing that would generally be in bylaws)

It's hard to imagine possible negative consequences that are worse than the decisions of a Board of new owners that doesn't believe in reserves!

So far as I know, & I may be wrong, for the Board to hire a vendor to install such a door on an owners' private property--absent safety or emergency reasons-- may be considered trespassing!

If you'd like to discuss the common area issues that this new Board has messed up, perhaps a different thread would be good.

PatJ1 (North Carolina)
Posts: 568
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By DeanJ on 05/26/2024 11:57 AM
Requiring a homeowner to spend money on a storm door is an assessment vs a regulation. The question is does your board have the authority to assess you if you refuse to follow a regulation. I don’t believe they do. If you fail to comply with a regulation, a fine is the HOA recourse.

The question is do you want to go to court over a $500 storm door. Your board is betting you won’t.

I have one, so this isn't my battle, but rather an owner, and new board, education opportunity.

Great question, "The question is does your board have the authority to assess you if you refuse to follow a regulation."

No they don't.

MarshallT (New York)
Posts: 414
Posted:
This does seem out of the board's scope. But if enough members are unhappy with this change, is it possible to requisition a meeting?
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
Pat, are you able to provide the wording from the Board meeting minutes when the Board made this decision? If not in meeting minutes, there IS NO rule.
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
Pat, are you able to provide the wording from the Board meeting minutes when the Board voted to make this decision? If not memorialized in meeting minutes, there IS NO rule.

There, then cannot be a fine or any other so-called requirements by the Board.
PatJ1 (North Carolina)
Posts: 568
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By KerryL1 on 05/27/2024 10:43 AM
Pat, are you able to provide the wording from the Board meeting minutes when the Board voted to make this decision? If not memorialized in meeting minutes, there IS NO rule.

There, then cannot be a fine or any other so-called requirements by the Board.

Rules & Regulations:

4. Storm Doors
Every unit is required to have a storm door. This creates uniformity among the community. Any unit not having a storm door must install one by December 31, 2024.
January 1, 2025 any owners without a storm door one will have one installed by the HOA and billed to the owner
Storm doors must be either full view or midview and must be either brown, or cream color. No white, black or other colored storm doors allowed.

Minutes:

-Allison drafted new R&R. Rob, Andrew, and Ron all reviewed and approved new R&R.
-Need to add an addendum outlawing fireworks
-All in favor of Storm Doors by December 31, 2024. If not installed by Jan 5th, 2025, Board will
install a storm door at the owner's expense.
-Storm door colors to be brown or cream.

PatJ1 (North Carolina)
Posts: 568
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By KerryL1 on 05/26/2024 2:19 PM
Did I review this entire post too quickly? If so, I missed the actual verbiage from the Board that requires these screen doors.

Please, Pat, supply the wording of the new R&R that owners received. Was it sent via US mail" Or?

Please also supply the approved open meeting minutes wording when the Board voted to make this decision.

Mind you, Pat, I agree with you & others that your CC&Rs do NOT permit the Board to make this new Rule & Reg. (this is NOT the type of thing that would generally be in bylaws)

It's hard to imagine possible negative consequences that are worse than the decisions of a Board of new owners that doesn't believe in reserves!

So far as I know, & I may be wrong, for the Board to hire a vendor to install such a door on an owners' private property--absent safety or emergency reasons-- may be considered trespassing!

If you'd like to discuss the common area issues that this new Board has messed up, perhaps a different thread would be good.


Emailed, not mailed, to all owners with an email address on May 4th, effective May 1st.

Rules & Regulations:
4. Storm Doors
Every unit is required to have a storm door. This creates uniformity among the community. Any unit not having a storm door must install one by December 31, 2024.
January 1, 2025 any owners without a storm door one will have one installed by the HOA and billed to the owner
Storm doors must be either full view or midview and must be either brown, or cream color. No white, black or other colored storm doors allowed.

Minutes:

Rules & Regulations:
-Allison drafted new R&R. Rob, Andrew, and Ron all reviewed and approved new R&R.
-Need to add an addendum outlawing fireworks
-All in favor of Storm Doors by December 31, 2024. If not installed by Jan 5th, 2025, Board will
install a storm door at the owner's expense.
-Storm door colors to be brown or cream.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
Thanks, Pat. While the minutes. look like they've been written by someone very inexperienced, no motions? No votes?, they probably are adequate to show the Board voted to approve this new rule. But, Im no lawyer. I was hoping they did not vote to approve it in a board meeting.

Still, we're back to what others & I, too, agree is the case: The Board does not have the authority to demand owners comply given your CC&Rs.

And....would the Board be trespassing if they hired a vendor to install these door on owners' separate interest Prib rate property) without there being an emergency or safety issue of some kind?

In some states, like Calif., owners may call a meeting (per Marshall) to veto a new rule, but I don't know about NC.
DeanJ
Posts: 1,786
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By PatJ1 on 05/27/2024 8:38 AM
Posted By DeanJ on 05/26/2024 11:57 AM
Requiring a homeowner to spend money on a storm door is an assessment vs a regulation. The question is does your board have the authority to assess you if you refuse to follow a regulation. I don’t believe they do. If you fail to comply with a regulation, a fine is the HOA recourse.

The question is do you want to go to court over a $500 storm door. Your board is betting you won’t.


I have one, so this isn't my battle, but rather an owner, and new board, education opportunity.

Great question, "The question is does your board have the authority to assess you if you refuse to follow a regulation."

No they don't.


The answer to that question is the declaration provides the HOA the authority to bring a property into compliance with the regulations and charge the owner. Most condos don’t have that authority because the owner owns space not the building.
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
Even if the Board did have the authority to require this, that doesn't mean it's a good idea. They need to consider possible downsides to their decision - for example, what if some owners get so ticked that they sue over it? It may be worthwhile to risk a lawsuit over some high stakes issue. But because they don't like the way things look? That is trivial in the grand scheme of things, and is entirely dependent on individual taste if the CC&Rs don't say anything about it.

Boards have more important things to worry about these days - such as insurance premiums and underfunded reserves.
PatJ1 (North Carolina)
Posts: 568
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By CathyA3 on 05/29/2024 10:47 AM
Even if the Board did have the authority to require this, that doesn't mean it's a good idea. They need to consider possible downsides to their decision - for example, what if some owners get so ticked that they sue over it? It may be worthwhile to risk a lawsuit over some high stakes issue. But because they don't like the way things look? That is trivial in the grand scheme of things, and is entirely dependent on individual taste if the CC&Rs don't say anything about it.

Boards have more important things to worry about these days - such as insurance premiums and underfunded reserves.

When I learned the new board was all about uniformity and they were voiding all previous board approvals, I was worried that they'd send violation letters to all that had them to remove them. Never thought they'd do this.

They buried the requirement in the new 19 page R&R's. Hasn't gotten much community chatter because I don't think most owners bothered reading them. My neighbor just reluctantly ordered her door.

I'm passing the popcorn.......
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By PatJ1 on 05/29/2024 11:18 AM
... snip ...

When I learned the new board was all about uniformity and they were voiding all previous board approvals, I was worried that they'd send violation letters to all that had them to remove them. Never thought they'd do this.

They buried the requirement in the new 19 page R&R's. Hasn't gotten much community chatter because I don't think most owners bothered reading them. My neighbor just reluctantly ordered her door.

I'm passing the popcorn..

OK, if they're voiding previous good-faith approvals, they're almost certainly out of line - especially if the R&Rs don't have a basis in the CC&Rs. This is worth pushing back on, since the fallout can negatively impact the entire community. In some states there are time limits on how long the association has to act on violations, after which they're considered to be approved. And even if there aren't time limits spelled out in the law, courts could find the board's actions "unreasonable" in this case and rule against the association.

When I was on the board, if we found something that a previous board should not have approved, the most we would do is send the violation noticee and essentially grandfather the item until the owner was due to replace it or paint it or whatnot. I think it's unfair to punish people who acted in good faith if there are other ways of dealing with the issue. And I hate wasting legal dollars on a losing effort - it grinds my very last gear when we have so many higher priority spending needs.

I'm often amazed how brand new "activist" boards go straight for the things that will get them into trouble.

Or maybe I'm not amazed. If they believed previous boards needed shaking up, I can see how the newbies would gravitate toward things that they can't do. There will be a shakeup or two, but probably not of the sort they're hoping for.

I hope you'll keep us informed on how this plays out.
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
Also... 19 pages of R&Rs !!??! On top of CC&Rs ?!?

Nobody enjoys living in a police state, and IMHO this is akin to entrapment. And it's stupid, IMHO, because it encourages a dismissive attitude to toward all of restrictions and whatnot, some of which are important. Shoot, I'd be tempted to see how many rules I could break, just for the sheer contrary pleasure of it. And I'm not the type who gets upset because other people can tell me what to do. If I'm irked, then there's something to be irked about.

(By the by, our association attorney cautioned us against over-zealous enforcement.)
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By CathyA3 on 05/30/2024 5:36 AM
Also... 19 pages of R&Rs !!??! On top of CC&Rs ?!?

Nobody enjoys living in a police state, and IMHO this is akin to entrapment. And it's stupid, IMHO, because it encourages a dismissive attitude to toward all of restrictions and whatnot, some of which are important. Shoot, I'd be tempted to see how many rules I could break, just for the sheer contrary pleasure of it. And I'm not the type who gets upset because other people can tell me what to do. If I'm irked, then there's something to be irked about.

(By the by, our association attorney cautioned us against over-zealous enforcement.)

Well said.
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By CathyA3 on 05/30/2024 5:36 AM
Also... 19 pages of R&Rs !!??! On top of CC&Rs ?!?

Nobody enjoys living in a police state, and IMHO this is akin to entrapment. And it's stupid, IMHO, because it encourages a dismissive attitude to toward all of restrictions and whatnot, some of which are important. Shoot, I'd be tempted to see how many rules I could break, just for the sheer contrary pleasure of it. And I'm not the type who gets upset because other people can tell me what to do. If I'm irked, then there's something to be irked about.

(By the by, our association attorney cautioned us against over-zealous enforcement.)

Well said.
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
I can see where HOAs like both Cathy's & JohnC's with no amenities would have very few rules. My impression is that Pat's HOA doe not have a lot of amenities, but I may be wrong. The more amenities, the more rules, obviously. Our Multi story high rise has many amenities and common areas that owners use or travel through.

The Board assigned me last year--former board member-- the task (at my request) to try to whittle down our rules and especially to dump redundancies and superfluous wording. Simultaneously, the Board wanted to eliminate some unnecessary-- usually unenforceable; some stupid -- rules, and add a few.

I have a long experience in editing in various settings, and worked very hard on this. I was only able to reduce it from 21 pages to 17-/1/2. All proposed eliminated rules and added rules were sent out for Owners 28-days comment period. There were zero objections. No rules are unreasonable at all. The Handbook does not feel police-statish.

Our R&R "Community Handbook" includes the Violation Enforcement Procedures, Schedule of Fines and the steps to be called to a hearing, and to take if called to a disciplinary hearing. Among our many amenities & elements about which there must be Rules:

24/7 Access control Officers in entry kiosk
Undergound garage deeded spaces
Underground Visitor Parking
" " Personal storage cages.
"" "" 4 Bicycle Rooms
Pool & Jacuzzi
Gym
Locker Rooms
Elevators
Interior stairwells
Balconies/Decks/Patios (Exclusive use common areas)
Window coverings
Trash Disposal
Rentals
Vendors & contractors
Moves in/out
Large item Deliveries
Exterior of Unit doors (HOA responsibility)
Holiday Decorations
Disturbances/Nuisances
Social Lounge & Conference Room rental requirements & rules
Pets
No rec. devices operated on premises
Circle Drive - 15 min.. max parking
Fire Life Systems-- arms; strobes -- no tampering, etc.
PatJ1 (North Carolina)
Posts: 568
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By CathyA3 on 05/30/2024 5:36 AM
Also... 19 pages of R&Rs !!??! On top of CC&Rs ?!?

Nobody enjoys living in a police state, and IMHO this is akin to entrapment. And it's stupid, IMHO, because it encourages a dismissive attitude to toward all of restrictions and whatnot, some of which are important. Shoot, I'd be tempted to see how many rules I could break, just for the sheer contrary pleasure of it. And I'm not the type who gets upset because other people can tell me what to do. If I'm irked, then there's something to be irked about.

(By the by, our association attorney cautioned us against over-zealous enforcement.)

Yesterday we received a reminder from the MC that all Memorial Day decorations, (decoration rules are an entire page of our new R&R's), had to be removed no later than today.

We have never had a problem with decorations in the past. New board just thinks we'll have one in the future.
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
Uh, Oh -- a PAGE of holiday stuff!? Our Holiday Decorations' 3 rules total 1/4 of a page.
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
I take Kerry's point about needing more rules in a high rise since there is so much building infrastructure that's in daily use. We basically have green space, sidewalks, and a couple streets - our condos all have private entrances and individual attached garages. A lot of the rules are "plain English" re-statements of what's in the Restrictions section of the CC&Rs.

Attached housing will have more rules than detached homes so that people can live in close quarters without driving each other crazy.

And different boards will have different ideas about the appropriate level of enforcement, which can be confusing for owners.

(I've seen rules that address decorations in condos, because there's always someone who will leave their holiday decorations on display all year 'round...)
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
I think we' re almost too generous in that our rule permits ANY-- let's say Valentine's Day decorations -- to be installed 15 days before the holiday AND stay up 15 days after it! I personally don't want to see hearts & cupids on balconies for a month. Yes, a February grinch.

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