Using Virginia As An Example For Homeowners Rights.

HOA News Podcast ~ Homeowners Association News

Virginia Loves Their Homeowners As I read articles, tweets and attend on-line seminars concerning this multi-billion dollar industry commonly referred to as Homeowners Associations, it saddens me to see how other Homeowners are treated by their States as well as their associations. What seems like common sense dealing with Associations and Homeowners, truly is not. It is the last statement that gave birth to this article titled, “Virginia Loves Their Homeowners”. As I read stories about Homeowners living in Texas, Hawaii, Florida, Arizona and many other States fighting for their rights concerning their home, my heart goes out to each and every one of them. I am not referring to the ever constant onslaught of embezzlement that has now become so prevalent that it happens just about weekly, I am referring to basic Homeowners Rights. Why is a recent War Vet, an American Hero in jeopardy of losing his home due to the placement of his trash cans? Could it be that this American Hero lost his leg during combat so you and I could live with the freedoms we have? Maybe the fact that he can not reach his trash cans due to his wheelchair? What should have been simple human decency from his Association, has turned into cold hearted bitterness because his Board of Directors maybe feel they must be so rigid when it comes to their CCRs. Why are Homeowners fighting for the right to attend their own Association meetings? Why are Homeowners having their homes foreclosed on because seven years earlier some new BOD or Property Management Company say they missed an HOA Dues Payment? Why are Homeowners fighting for the right to see where their dues are being spent? Why do people who do not live in these Associations, feel they have more authority than the Owners who have invested their own monies and actually live in their own community? I truly am amazed when I read about State Legislators who are trying to pass bills to help Homeowners, and the fact is that there is a select group of people who will do everything they can, to lobby against their efforts with the sole intention of stopping this process. It further upsets me when they do it under the false pretense of “Making Associations Better”. Why would they do this? In my opinion, it is because they see the end of their "paid for" power coming to a very swift end. When that happens, their inflated monies will not be far behind. Virginia does not tolerate this type of bullying and that is why these so-called Association Advocates, spend most of the time targeting States with weaker laws concerning Homeowner rights. Virginia has taken a stand to protect their Homeowners by passing laws that make everyone abide by the same rules as well as just good old fashion common sense. Virginia has the Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman. They assist Condominium, Cooperative, and Property Owners' Associations. The Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman offers assistance and information to association members regarding the rights and processes available to them through their associations. The Common Interest Community Board is separate and distinct from the Office of the Ombudsman. The Board is the regulatory body responsible for licensing association managers, certifying certain employees of licensed management firms, receiving annual reports filed by associations, and registering condominium and time-share projects registrations. More information is available on the Common Interest Community Board page. Virginia has a State run website where any individual can search for laws that regulate Condominiums. It is referred to as the Virginia Condominium Act. Chapter 4.2. Condominium Act. This chapter covers everything from developing a Condo Association to what is expected of the Association to be able to function, as an Association. My Association was established in 1989 according to Virginia State Law. Our Bylaws are extremely well written and our open meetin...