Good one

[hot tub Frank]

After 2.5 month of using my hot tub the home owners assosiation decided to send me a letter that it is not approved.

This is just too funny.

How would you react?

P.s

The sign is up to sell my house!!

[nicker]

do you live in a condo or somthing?

Yup see ya later Id say.  Can't even do what you want in your own back yard anymore.

[Augustus]

If you're selling your home, I wouldn't even acknowledge the letter.  If you were staying, I would think that you could send them a letter from a doctor.  Is the HOA going to tell you that you can't have a doctor-prescribed spa?  Probably not.

[pg_rider]

Wow...  Is it explicitly stated in your covenants?  I checked ours before buying a spa just to be sure.  Did they give you a reason for why it's not allowed?  It's not like you put an eyesore in your yard or something...

[gores95]

In my development we are not allowed above ground pools.  Inground pools, fences and sheds need to be approved by the Board.  Nothing about spas thank goodness!!!

I would just contact one of the Board officers for an explanation.  Maybe it's their way of asking for a test soak!!  

[geekd]

I WILL NOT live somewhere that's going to tell me what color I can paint my house, how green my lawn must be, or WHAT I CAN DO IN MY OWN BACYARD!


Sorry, homeowners associations piss me off.

So my neighbors could take beter care of their yard.  so what.  I'd much rather my neighbors lawn be brown that have some old bitty with nothing better to do tell me my house can't be whatever shade of blue I want it to be.

PLUS, the fees!

No way man.  I live in a great neighborhood at the beach, a few miles from downtown San Diego.  I pay NO fees and no one tells me what to do.

Why buy a house if some comitte of jobless nosey busybodies can tell me what to do with it?  And I pay them for the priveledge?  No thanks.  It's my house.  If I want a hot tub, I got one.  If I want to paint it bright purple, then bright purple it is.

I'm constantly amazed that anyone would put themselves to such a crazy situation.


Sorry.  rant off.


-geekd

[hot tub Frank]

geeg you are right with your reaction.
thats why I am moving out of my sub devision.
It must be a nosy nabor beeing.
but here is the tricky part. My backyard is fenced in with a 6 foot privacy fence you can not see the the hot tub.
i also got i letter when I build a roof over my dog's house so that he has some shade.
It is abvios that the hoa has nothing better to do.
I am suprised that they did not complained about my green grass that it is too green.

[sledjunkie]

I would never live in a subdivision with a home owners association. I am against them as well..

I have 100 acres of conservation land directly behind my house and I couldn't be happier.
Plenty of privacy and I can do whatever I want.
Only problem is keeping the bears away from the bird feeder.. especially this time of year...

[tony]

Just what in the world are they going to do to you if you ignore the ruling or don't comply?  It is still your property.  They can't come and take it away.  Covenants can be tough to enforce except during the original building.  FWIW, I have lived (and do now) in two homes that were in neighborhoods that had (have) homeowners associations and covenants.

[imp etc]

Just what in the world are they going to do to you if you ignore the ruling or don't comply?

In our case (Spice owns a condo that's rented to tenants who have "over-decorated" the yard) the HOA added a fine of $50 to our monthly dues, and they threaten to keep adding it until the "violation" is removed.

Ick.
 

[GoBlue]

I WILL NOT live somewhere that's going to tell me what color I can paint my house, how green my lawn must be, or WHAT I CAN DO IN MY OWN BACYARD!

-geekd

I agree.  We looked at a couple of new subdivisions, but there were too many restrictions.  We'll stay where we are and be allowed to do what we wish.

[GoBlue]

I WILL NOT live somewhere that's going to tell me what color I can paint my house, how green my lawn must be, or WHAT I CAN DO IN MY OWN BACYARD!

-geekd

I agree.  We looked at a couple of new subdivisions, but there were too many restrictions.  We'll stay where we are and not have to ask a HOA's permission to do what we wish.

[loosenupspas]

All HOA's have convenence, and when you purchased your house you must have ben given a copy of the rules.  For the association to randomly declare your hot tub in violation would be easily challenged.  Where is it written in the bylaws that a tub isn't allowed.  Their objection is probably more visibilty to other neighbors or the street and not really that hot tubs are not allowed.  Most HOA boards are comprised of well meaning people that will work with you.  It may be a neighbor who is causing you problems and complaining to the HOA.  You have to be gracious and patient, keep your cool, slay them with kindness.  In most cases these boards are only dealing with up tight and angry people.  Good luck....

[drewstar]

Why is the tub "not approved"? Is it just a formality that they can come over, and after paying an "aproval fee" get it approved? I'm sure a new owner will have something to say if they bought the house from you  and inherits this  problem?

What do the bylaws state? Are ANY hot tubs allowed? What is needed for an apporval? What is required?

[gores95]

I was the Architectural Chairperson for three years on my neighborhood's HOA.  I am so glad to be done with that.

Did you alert the HOA originally when the tub was installed?  If the convenants state it needs to be approved they probably just need to stop by, take a look and then send you an approval letter.  Most likely no big deal.  Hot tubs/spas are allowed correct? 

Unless you get a hard a-- Board member.  In that case who knows what could happen!