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TOO
MANY GRINCHES ON HOA BOARDS?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published
December 6, 2013
One
thing is sure: We will again see in the very next future reports
about HOA owners being threatened by their board for their
holiday decorations. Just watch your local TV station and/or
your local newspaper for headlines like: “Homeowner files lawsuit over Christmas decorations”
or “Menorah lawsuit
resolved in time for Hanukkah, but bad feelings linger.”
It
is an old tradition to decorate homes and gardens for Christmas.
But in recent years we have seen too many board members spoiling
the holiday spirit for families living in HOAs. What’s wrong
with some nice holiday decorations – they definitely don’t
decrease property values.
As
long as the owners are not going overboard – like
Chevy Chase
in “National
Lampoon's Christmas Vacation”
– I think nobody should get “violation” letters and other
threats for decorating the family’s home for Christmas.
If boards are afraid that some of the association members will
go overboard, why not creating certain rules limiting the time
of the display. Make no mistake, owners can always use the time
limitations of
FS
720.305(2)(b) to
circumvent being fined. Before the HOA can even send the notice
and hold the required hearing in front of the grievance
committee, the holidays are long over and the owner can come to
the meeting saying: “I removed the decorations as required in
your letter dated December ??!”
It’s
the holidays – let people have some fun – especially the
kids who love these Christmas decorations.
Or
do you want to be considered the Grinch
Who Stole Christmas?
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