Altering Sliding Doors/Association Property

All of our units/townhouses are 2 stories and have sliding doors off of the bedrooms in the back. The doors were originally installed so they lock from the inside only.

If the Association owns and maintains the sliding doors of each unit, does a homeowner have the right to add or alter the lock so that it can now be locked from the outside upon exiting. This alteration of Association property has allowed many residents to convert their downstairs into individual, self contained rental units, with the sliding door being used as a front door/main entrance.

Neighbors now have unwanted foot traffic moving behind their units where the bedrooms are. In my opinion, the sliding doors were not designed to be a main entrance by the simple fact that there was no original locking mechanism installed on the outside.

thanks for any help

Of course Glen is more than right about altering common property (if this is the case). As described, it may even take an amendment to the Unit desription in the Master Deed to make these alterations, if approved.

However, how many units in this association? Are you all in good shape are are you struggling with problems and this is the "straw" that caused all this attention? I suspect this is the situation, things are going downhill from all kinds of degradation over time.

If so, or not for that matter, if you have either a zoning restriction as Glen is suggesting you run down, or some local ordinance, and we are betting you do, also check your documents for restrictions that would apply. There can be other considerations that would impact on this increased traffic, such as, occupancy requirements, parking, noise considerations for the neighborhood, increased demands on your amenities, or common areas. Most common areas are designed with an eye on how many people they will serve, you add more people, you add more demand.

If your association has a rental policy, and it don't work (obviously) then amend it to comply with your Governing Documents. If none, get a good strong one in place ASAP. If it turns out your association can do nothing about it, you can sure amend your documents. However, as you know, this thing may have gone too far down the road to change.
Better get with it...............I'm thinking.

It is assumed you do know California State Statutes.

I don’t know. The way I interpreted your post was that the renter only had access to the basement section with the door at the stairs leading to the first floor locked; in effect a separate apartment which is different from renting a room in a home. At least locally that would be verboten. The tenant would have to have more than one way out in case of fire and the separate apartment must be inspected and approved by the building inspector and the fire department to insure it met the code requirements, working smoke detectors, etc. Have you asked your BOD or MC if it is allowed? Does your community have a rental policy of some type?

Let's see if we can determine if this is an HOA or a condo of single family residences. If the later, I don't think the covenants would allow it nor would the Master deed provide for it and certainly the Board should be absolutely sure it is legal. I think they do because than can and get away with it. I would take great exception to this. Renting property, ok if controlled by Policy. Creating two residences out of one..........not ok. If this Board wants to push the enevelope charge each renter an assessment fee, that would royally screw thing up.

ThomasC11,
Well I am glad you spoke the truth, that is commendable.

On
the left side of this page are a few links of contributors or sponsors of this cite. (CAN) has some excellent free information on their site. Root around there, it is a friendly site and contains tons of stuff. Search their Library, you will find out a lot of answers there about HOA, Condo and such.
You seem to think we should know what you are, but really, you have to tell us. But, you have got a long road to go before you will know enough to ask a question about your association. The best way to do this is to speak to one of your Board members and ask where you can find the governing documents of your association....all of them. Ask why you don't have a copy for one thing. You are an owner of a unit there, is that right?
There is just too much to know Thomas to put in an e-mail.

A quick method of sorting some of this out is to use Google and type in the question. Something like: difference between condo and HOA. There is more information on the net than any of us could read in a lifetime.

Good luick, you need to get involved with your community and I also suggest you read the contract you signed when you bought your property.

Thanks Steve, that really does help. What about the fact that the door has been altered with the ability to lock upon exiting. Other units do not have this, making renters leave from the upstairs front door.