My HOA has gone off the deep end... Apparently I can't let my grill cool down anymore.

[acheron]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
Only HOA story I have, and it's from FL too! The HOA in both our old AND new neighborhoods tried to stop my dad from putting up satellite dishes. Yes, two small dishes, as opposed to one big powered one. He pulled some FCC shit on them about not being allowed to regulate the use of a satellite dish or something; all I know is both times he basically told the HOA to get bent and neither HOA has ever given us problems. Win. You show them who's boss once, and they back down.

Yeah, there are FCC regulations regarding that. Basically, if it's part of your property, you can put up a satellite dish and the HOA can't say anything about it. Also applies to condos if you have a porch or balcony. The HOA can still regulate "common elements", so if you live in a condo where the balcony doesn't face the right way, you can't put up a dish on the roof or something unless the HOA allows it.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Pegun
All hail Dollyman, the true image of ridiculous HOA's and fighting back.

What ever happened? I remember that but even your link just ends with no real updates since last year?

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Pegun
All hail Dollyman, the true image of ridiculous HOA's and fighting back.

What ever happened? I remember that but even your link just ends with no real updates since last year?

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Pegun
All hail Dollyman, the true image of ridiculous HOA's and fighting back.

What ever happened? I remember that but even your link just ends with no real updates since last year?

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
OP - how long do you wait to put the cover back on the grill? A couple of hours or do you wait til the next day?

Why the fuck would it matter?

 

[Fern]

Can you get a copy of the rule you supposedly violated and post it here?

If you're allowed to grill, but must have a cover surely it must allow the cover to be off "while in use". The cooling off period should qualify as "in use" just as the "heating up" period should.

Fern

 

[FelixDeCat]

We have these in Texas too! :thumbsdown:

 

[nanette1985]

Get a cover that looks EXACTLY like the grill without the cover. Then nobody can tell that the grill is not covered.

 

[nerp]

Originally posted by: icingdeath88
I just got a notice from my HOA of a new rule that says that no "immobile vehicles" are allowed to be parked here, including vehicles with "one or more flat tires." what the hell, that means that if I have a flat tire, i can't park it at my house? these people are out of control. they asked for a key to my condo. i told them they couldn't have one. but if there's a safety issue they can sue me over it. asses. these are the same people that leave my storage room unlocked after they inspect it. (too lazy to change the locks). like i'm giving them a key to my house.

and we're just not allowed to have grills. not on balconies (kinda understandable), not outside or in garages, etc. they have 2 really crappy grills by the pool that anyone can use, but for a busy weekend forget it. and you have to have your own propane tanks, but another rule says you can't store propane tanks in the residences, so unless you also have a garage, you're screwed.

also, the only way that this HOA crap will get under control is if people actually are willing to pay more to live in places without overzealous HOAs. this uses the property values thing against them. frankly "getting involved" isn't an option for those of us with real lives. it is for the old retired douches though. which are about 70% of my neighbors (tampa, fl).

Tampa blows.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
You probably got nailed during an audit. Explain what happened to the HOA and tell them to stuff it up their ASS.


Then paint your house purple.

I think he should put some diagonal orange stripes too. Also, Don't you agree than he should put neon beer signs in the windows so that everybody from outside can see his favorite brews?

 

[ArizonaSteve]

I do have to wonder what those of us can do when pretty much every development in the last ten years is controlled by an HOA. Phoenix seems to be pretty bad for this. I would dearly love to buy a house, but I will not live in an HOA neighborhood.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: ArizonaSteve
I do have to wonder what those of us can do when pretty much every development in the last ten years is controlled by an HOA. Phoenix seems to be pretty bad for this. I would dearly love to buy a house, but I will not live in an HOA neighborhood.

Take over the board and then move to cancel the HoA.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: ArizonaSteve
I do have to wonder what those of us can do when pretty much every development in the last ten years is controlled by an HOA. Phoenix seems to be pretty bad for this. I would dearly love to buy a house, but I will not live in an HOA neighborhood.

It's really more a matter of price point or only willing to buy a brand new home.

At lower price points you need to look at 10+ year old homes. At higher price points HOA's are usually more lenient as property size grows.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: aphex
I just got the stupidest violation letter from my HOA, i know they are assholes but this is above and beyond. Apparently I'm in violation of the HOA rules since I left the cover off the grill on my patio, which mind you was sitting right next to the grill which I had just used (I use the grill every 3-4 days).

I don't exactly think its safe to put a cover on the grill when its 500-600 degrees, so I let it cool and put the cover back on a few hours later. The letter I got details the time of the "violation", it was about 30 minutes after I had used it last week for lunch to grill up some chicken.

Too many old people around here with too few things to do. HOA's suck, but you really can't live anywhere in FL without them anymore. I hate this place.

put a satilite dish on your front lawn. federal law allows this. federal law >> hoa rules!

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: JEDI

put a satilite dish on your front lawn. federal law allows this. federal law >> hoa rules!

not exactly, here is a quick link http://www.ccfj.net/FCClaw.htm

I am sure his HOA has a bylaw that allows for the dishes to be placed in certain areas. They can do this as long as it would not prevent you from getting a clear signal.

Also ultimately once you sign into agreement with the terms civilly you could be held responsible.

 

[imported_Lothar]

Originally posted by: Shawn
My parents got a fine once for leaving the garage door open for too long.

WTF?

 

[TheSlamma]

Move to the city, fvck HOA's

Plus then you can get a real grill (Charcoal) and dump that outdoor stove

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Lothar

Originally posted by: Shawn
My parents got a fine once for leaving the garage door open for too long.

WTF?

often talked about...hard to get. Pretty much leaving your garage open overnight or more than 2 hours past the last time you were seen in it.

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: TangoJuliet
My HOA recently banned all grills except electric. People got really pissed but nothing we can do about it. Wish I made more money so I could move.....but that will come with time. I just go to my parents house to grill

The reason they did that is more than likely insurance rates, I am on a condo board and alot of insurance companies are mandating that in order to get any kind of reasonably affordable coverage you have to ban grilling or centralize the location allowed that is far away from any of the units. Sucks but I am guessing they are tired of paying out for damages and what not from stupid owners that are not careful

 

[TraumaRN]

Originally posted by: bozack

Originally posted by: TangoJuliet
My HOA recently banned all grills except electric. People got really pissed but nothing we can do about it. Wish I made more money so I could move.....but that will come with time. I just go to my parents house to grill

The reason they did that is more than likely insurance rates, I am on a condo board and alot of insurance companies are mandating that in order to get any kind of reasonably affordable coverage you have to ban grilling or centralize the location allowed that is far away from any of the units. Sucks but I am guessing they are tired of paying out for damages and what not from stupid owners that are not careful

The pussyification of America.....:roll:.

So retarded what flies as 'normal' in this country at times.

 

[Jumpem]

Don't buy a house in a development. Go buy a few acres and have a house built.

 

[DT4K]

In our area, the only way to avoid an HOA is to buy an older home. We wanted a newer place in a nice neighborhood, so we have an HOA.

What some people don't understand is that unless you go to HOA meetings (which may only be held once per quarter), you really don't know what the HOA is going to be like. You can read all the rules, but as with all rules and laws, there is a certain amount of interpretation that depends on who is in charge. And that is what it really comes down to. When HOA's are being run by idiots, they can be a major pain in the ass.

We've experienced the good and the bad in the same neighborhood. When we first moved in, the HOA was run by a bunch of cocky, egotistical assholes. These board members put us in debt with their poor management. When certain members of the community started becoming vocal with their complaints about the board and demanding answers, the board members started using their power to harass the homeowners who complained. For example, the rules say you have to keep your lawn looking nice and weed free. People do their best, but almost every house has at least a couple weeds in the lawn. But the board sent violations and fined only those owners who had argued with them, even though their lawns were no worse than half the neighborhood.

Eventually, things got bad enough that a petition was created and enough signatures were collected to hold a special vote to remove the board members. The vote passed, the assholes were removed, and a new board was elected. It's been two years since the new board was put in place and so far, everything is good. Yes, they enforce the rules, but they do it in a fair and reasonable way. If someone is violating a rule, they stop by their house, knock on the door, let them know about it, and give them a chance to fix it.

So it really comes down to who is in charge of the HOA. The problem is that unless someone is personally affected by the board, they probably don't give a crap who's in charge. So when only a few owners are being screwed, it's hard to change the leadership.

 

[TechBoyJK]

I would contact your local TV station to have them do an tv spot on it, and ask them to interview a Fire Department Official.

I would also write a nice letter back stating, politely, that you understand their concern for the upkeep of the image of the area, but you absolutely will not put the cover back until it is safe to do so.

 

[acheron]

Originally posted by: bozack

Originally posted by: TangoJuliet
My HOA recently banned all grills except electric. People got really pissed but nothing we can do about it. Wish I made more money so I could move.....but that will come with time. I just go to my parents house to grill

The reason they did that is more than likely insurance rates, I am on a condo board and alot of insurance companies are mandating that in order to get any kind of reasonably affordable coverage you have to ban grilling or centralize the location allowed that is far away from any of the units. Sucks but I am guessing they are tired of paying out for damages and what not from stupid owners that are not careful

Could also be fire codes; our county has some restrictive fire codes for multi-unit buildings unless the buildings are constructed a certain way.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
Don't buy a house in a development. Go buy a few acres and have a house built.

Acres are still selling for $75k-200k in most places here. Not many are looking to build cheap now either, they want to sell inventory first.