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MorrisL (California)
Posts: 1
Posted:
I am an absentee owner of 26 years, first three a resident owner. Early years was a member of the HOA board.
I know that according to CA CCR Law, that when a Leasee/renter gives notice that there is a needed repair to the Condo, that the owner has 30 days to repair, show/written reasons for a delay or written reasons why the repair is not needed. That if that repair is not done, then the Leasee/renter has the right to do the needed repairs and charge back to the homeowner the material costs, plus labor.
My question is: Does this also apply to the HOA?
In our HOA, all land is owned by the HOA members.
EX: Homeowner has a fence that is in Common Ground and the upkeep responsibility of the HOA. The fence had a couple of rotted out posts that need to be replaced. Verbal requests to the management company and a written request to have the posts fixed were given to the Board and logged into the Repair Book by the board for the maintenance man to do. Five months goes by and the repairs are not done. Contact again with the management company asking when the repairs will be done, the answer given is it not a priority.
Off the record answer; Lazy Maintenance Man.
SO, the question is: Does this homeowner have the right to do the repairs and charge back to the HOA the cost of the material costs? The homeowner is deferring the cost of the labor as a fact that he is the owner and wishes to help out the HOA.
Our management company says "No", I say "Yes". My reasoning is we should all fall under the same rules as owners do for their leasee's. There is a safety factor here of the fence falling down and injurying someone. BUT, the main reason is that the upkeep and beautification of the units/common ground is a top priority. No matter what or who's responsibility for not keeping the units/common ground up. SO, if not done in a timely mannner by the HOA, then the owner should have the same rights.
What do you think?
What is the Law?
Reason "Why" and "Why Not" are appreciated.
Thank you
MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491
Posted:
My short answer is: No, you cannot make the repairs yourself and then try to charge back the HOA.

First of all, do you mean a fence that is on common ground, but that a homeowner's property backs up to?

Because I would be very concerned if a homeowner's fence were on common property.

But the fence is the responsibility of the board to maintain.

We had a situation years ago where a very large tree adjacent to a homeowner's property was dead. The board (yes, I was on the board at the time, but only one vote)was dragging its feet about removing it.

Some of us felt that it should have been a higher priority than some other projects (like planting flowers) because while flowers are nice, they won't damage a homeowner's property or person if they blow over.

I was only one vote on the board, but a contingent of residents got together and presented a petition to the board to immediately address the tree and included their concerns.

Yes, we have insurance (and so should your HOA), but still . . .

The board went ahead and elevated the tree removal as a top priority.

Why? Because they wanted to keep their jobs . . .

In terms of if there is a law in California that covers how quickly an HOA must respond in cases like this, others who post here might be able to help you with that.

Regarding if it should be the same as the rentors laws, I'm guessing no, because I really don't see how you can equate this to a leasee/landlord type of situation. That would be really stretching it.
RickR7 (California)
Posts: 10
Posted:
Morris,

This should be covered in your governing documents and in the Davis-Stirling Act in California. You can use Google and search for Davis-Stirling and find many sites dedicated to this rather large work of laws pertaining to Associations like yours.

Rick
MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043
Posted:
Morris,

Actually I doubt this is covered in your gov docs or the D-S Act, as Rick has alluded to. No doubt your CCRs do state the assn has the authority to make repairs to a h/o's prop and bill the h/o, but I doubt the reverse is allowed or even addressed. Frankly, I don't know why the board agreed to maintain the fence if it was erected by an h/o on common area. First of all, the h/o should not have been allowed to do that, but when he did he should have been given a choice, either take down the fence or agree to maintain it for as long as he owns the unit. But, of course, that's a different issue. At any rate, IMO, no member has the authority to take it upon himself to perform maint that the assn is resp. for doing and then bill the assn. It's not the members call when maint is required on a particular item. You can ask the BOD to perform the needed maint and even get a group of like-minded members to make the appeal with you, but it's up to them to have the work performed.

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