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ShermanJ (California)
Posts: 5
Posted:
We own a unit here at XXX XXX Villas in northern San Diego, California next door to Del Mar. It is one of 114 in the complex. Al-tho the new freeway interconnect for highways 5 and 56 may take a few units and the pool; for now we number 114. The HOB for years has ignored problems year after year until they have no choice. Like pretending that the freeway junction may function without a full exchange. "Just talking about the freeway will lower property value."

A major problem here for many years is drainage. Drains to nowhere. Others plugged. Downspouts plugged. Downspouts dumping out next to foundations. Water ponding next to buildings. After a good rain some residents must wade through inches of water to enter or exit their front doors. Over the years misguided efforts to address the problem have made matters worse. Banking dirt upon the side of buildings well above the stucco transition to "direct water away from garage doors" etc. Sections of some drains have been replaced with flexible perforated tube that undulates up and down over roots, water lines and other obstructions. All this encourages the water to undermine the slab floors and foundations.

Resulting water intrusion has resulted in dry rot damage, cracked and sagging slabs and foundations, corroded and broken water pipes and leaking gas lines, broken sanitary sewer pipe and vents, termite damage, windows and doors that don't function properly, cracked and sagging side walks and more.

The board response year after year has been to promise, ignore and lie; "stonewall and deny a real problem."

We know the problem. The cost of proper repair is significant and getting bigger each year. Damage is adding up. "Making some repairs would acknowledge the problem and just invite others to make claims." This would deplete reserves and require special assessments. "Starting down this road would make it impossible for anyone to sell or refinance."

The drain problem is a hazard and one serious accident or lawsuit could devastate the entire complex.

What would you do?
SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699
Posted:
Whats a "HOB"?

What would you do?
SELL
ShermanJ (California)
Posts: 5
Posted:
The Home Owners Association Board.
SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699
Posted:
Thanks.

Most people call it a BOD (Board of directors) I'd never heard the HOB term before.
ShermanJ (California)
Posts: 5
Posted:
This had not occurred to me before but I am suspicious that this may be a local euphemism. I will try to avoid using it and hope that I have not used the term previously.
GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491
Posted:
Sherman, the first thing you need is for the owners to replace the do nothing BOD with members willing to get their hands dirty. Get members to go to each months Board meeting and complain about the lack of maintenance. Finally if that fails the members have the right to sue the Board in Superior Court for their failure to maintain. I would suggest you visit www.davis-stirling.com or Google Davis-Stirling Act and learn it along with your CC&R's.

Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions
MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491
Posted:
Aside from Glen's excellent suggestion, it sounds like some of the problems you are listing would run afoul of zoning issues.

It might be time to report the problems to the local zoning enforcement board.

They will send a zoning enforcement officer to investigate the drainage and downspout issues, etc, and the board will have no choice to handle them once they are on the radar screen of zoning enforcement.
ShermanJ (California)
Posts: 5
Posted:
At the Board of Directors meeting tonight I presented a letter to each of the 5 board members, requesting mediation.
ShermanJ (California)
Posts: 5
Posted:
At the Board of Directors meeting tonight I presented a letter to each of the 5 board members, requesting mediation.

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