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Broke homeowners association halts trash service

Started by GeorgerwilliamsW • 15 replies • 3551 views

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GeorgerwilliamsW
Posts: 972
Posted:

Could it get any worse?

Hey, Texas folks. What is going on here???

Broke homeowners association halts trash service
Wed, 08/13/2008 - 10:50pm.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=6323453

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Piles of trash are starting to stink outside homes in a neighborhood in north Harris County. The homeowners association is in debt and can't afford to pick up the trash.

Homeowners say they've paid their dues and don't understand why the association still owes thousands of dollars. We're talking about the Aldine Village neighborhood, near the Hardy Toll Road.

    "Principal Management Group wouldn't go on camera, but said the association has been without a board for five years. Now the 300 or so homes are predominately rentals and getting the landlords to pay has been impossible."

    "Lawsuits, bankruptcy, reporting it to the county, reporting it to the district attorney's office& There are a bunch of options but the bottom line they need a court to step in and enjoin everyone out there from, basically, misbehaving."
KirkW1
Posts: 1,659
Posted:
Same thing happens in other (much smaller) states. Don't blame me for their problems as they live more then four hours away.

Seriously I have major qualms about letting HOAs deal with the basic services typically provided by a municipality. There just isn't enough oversight for the organizations.
MaryA1
Posts: 6,993
Posted:
"Lawsuits, bankruptcy, reporting it to the county, reporting it to the district attorney's office& There are a bunch of options but the bottom line they need a court to step in and enjoin everyone out there from, basically, misbehaving."

The article stated there hasn't been a board for 5 years; a property mgmt co is running the place. It would appear to me a court has already stepped in and authorized the mgmt co to act on behalf of the assn; they cannot just act on their own. But if they are (strange things happen all the time!), perhaps that's why there is no $$$$!!!
KirkW1
Posts: 1,659
Posted:
Guess I won't complain about owner apathy in my neighborhood.
DonnaS
Posts: 5,596
Posted:

Here lies the problem---" but said the association has been without a board for five years. Now the 300 or so homes are predominately rentals and getting the landlords to pay has been impossible."

So whos to blame here? Every owner, that's who. We have a HOA with about 300 owners and no one will step up to the plate. I kinda don't feel that sorry for them. Pretty soon, the waste management district or County will take over the service and bill the H.Os on their tax bills probably at a higher cost.
KirkW1
Posts: 1,659
Posted:
I feel bad for the renters. They have no power in the situation. If the district takes over trash collection, then it will probably bill to the renters. Most places here in Texas trash and sewer are put on the water bill.
HaroldS
Posts: 902
Posted:
Just another example of a city shoving off normal, standard city services to an HOA. It doesn't sound like this is a gated community, so why is/was this HOA responsible for waste management? Probably a requiremnet of the city before they would grant permission to build the subdivision.
If a management company is running the show, you can be sure they are getting paid first.
SteveM9
Posts: 3,688
Posted:
Quote:
As trash piles up inside their garages, many Aldine Village residents resort to loading up bags and hauling off them somewhere else.


I've lived in towns with no trash service. Its no big deal. We drove to the town dump and dropped the trash off ourselves. It's very easy. If you choose to collect weeks of trash in your garage, that's your choice.

Looking at google maps, this association appears to be a trailer park. So it doesn't surprise me no one is paying.
SteveM9
Posts: 3,688
Posted:
Trash pickup is a luxury like cable tv. It's not a necessity. I can easily see why it was cut. People can bring the trash to the city/town themselves.
FredS7
Posts: 922
Posted:
> Just another example of a city shoving off normal, standard city services to an HOA.

Garbage pickup by the city is not "standard." I would go as far as "common."
PatriciaH4
Posts: 42
Posted:
Most subdivisions near me (including both the one I work at and the one I live in) don't handle trash service - the MUD district is who selects and pays for it (it's included in the water bill).

KellyM3
Posts: 2,233
Posted:
This calamity is completely self-inflicted. No need for a whiny newspaper article.
BruceF1
Posts: 2,516
Posted:
Why was this 5-year-old thread resurrected?
FredS7
Posts: 922
Posted:
Oooo it's a zombie thread we've been necroposted
GlenL
Posts: 5,429
Posted:
I know the city I used to live in, started charging for trash pickup, what had been a "free" city service fell to the wayside due to dwindling tax revenue and increases elsewhere.
TimB4
Posts: 20,986
Posted:

As Bruce pointed out, this thread is 5 years old.

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