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KarenS11 (Florida)
Posts: 148
Posted:
We have a fenced storage area with fifteen spaces that is used for boats and campers. Lighting was installed years ago and the association pays for the lighting of the secured space- $2000 a year. Our insurance covers the space, but owners are liable for their actual vehicles. We also pay to rekey periodically and keep the weeds whacked.

At this time there is no charge for this storage, however, ours C & Rs permit us to impose a fee. They also permit restiction of use of common area (a park and this storage lot) if assessemtns are not current.

We would like to impose an annual fee for use of this lot. There are 101 units, so only a small minority use it- less than 10%. We recently had a park clean-up day and hand-delivered notices to each of the folks who use the lot, asking that they come to help clean the secured storage lot. One person showed up.

My questions are:

Should we charge a fee?

If so, how much do you think would be reasonable to charge? Should we charge a flat fee or vary it depending on what is being stored?

We currently have a camper that is 40 feet long, an open trailer that is six feet long and boats that are about 25 feet long and others in between these sizes. Boat storage in the area for the size boats that we house goes for $100 a month, but it is difficult to find any place with an opening.

Should we restrict homeowners to the use of one space only?

Should we withhold access to those whose assessments are in arrears?

We are also permitted to charge a fee to neighboring residents and have had two inquiries recently. What are your thoughts on this? We currently have space for six boats/trailers or smaller campers. We would do so by giving them an associate membership to our association, similar to what a neighborhing HOA has done in allowing us use of a lakefront park.
GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491
Posted:
You should charge a fee for this service. Figure out all your costs and divide it by the number of available spaces. IMO if someone is using double the space then they should pay double the fee. Yes I would pass a rule that if the H/O is in arrears then the item will be towed. If it's allowed I would not have a problem renting the space out as long as it is somewhere in the contract that residents have priority and the contract could be cancelled if a H/O wanted the space.

Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions
HaroldS (Arizona)
Posts: 906
Posted:
That is a no brainer. Why should the other 90% who don't use it pay for the $2,000 annual cost? Ten users = $200 each per year for storage. I think a bargain, and also have it close by. What would storage cost at a commercial storage yard and be not as convenient?
SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202
Posted:
Check your deed and membership rights. If it includes the right to park a boat or vehicle in the common area, then I wonder if you can charge for it - since someone would argue that the assessments already takes care of the common areas.

However, if the storage is a "perk" offered to the homeowners, then charging them a storage fee would seem like a good idea to cover the cost of the electricity, clean-up and fence maintenance.

No one shows up to help clean? Then raise the rental fee!

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