I hate HOA's !!

When I bought the house we live in, in Denver, I had no idea what an HOA was. In Wyoming we did not have them.

I am counting the days until my kids are on their own so I can put this house up for sale and let some other sucker put up with this garbage!

I have never understood how some folks can justify having the power to make rules for other people and enforce them through the police or through leans on your home!

Most of the folks I have encountered who serve on these boards do not impress me and usually do not have a clue. They just seem to be in it for the power.

Why am I venting about this now ?

My backyard has a wooden framed wire fence that ajoins an open space with a community trail. It had a 10 to 12 year old Virginia creeper growing on it that was beautiful. It gave us privacy and the birds loved it for the berries.

I am working my night shifts so I sleep during the day. This afternoon when I got up there was a crew of folks in my backyard and in the open space cleaning up the area. I just thought they were raking up leaves. But as I looked a little closer I saw that they had completely cut out the vine and tore it out of the fence so they could spray stain on the wood part of the fence ! No notice, no warning, no regrets !
And I have no recourse .
WOW!

er .... for those of us in Europe what is the HOA ? The tidy police ?

David

Permies can utilize the HOA to their advantage. Buy 50 acres. Subdivide into 20 - 2.5 acre lots. Plot an initial design that would include common earthworks. Write up a set of CCRs that would mandate no lawns in the front yards, edible landscapes only. Off grid power sources only. Composting toilets and grey water systems. Homeowners fees to fund a communal abattoir. The local busy body would have to get the signatures of every member of every household - children included - before they could table any complaints at the HOA monthly meeting. Then include a line in the CCRs' that states "All monthy HOA meetings will be cancelled on account of weather."

David Livingston wrote:er .... for those of us in Europe what is the HOA ? The tidy police ?

David

Home Owners Association. They are a bane of many a permaculturists existence.

Miles - I'm so sorry! I purposely chose to buy a house without an HOA for just that reason. Ugh. I know tons of people who are fleeing HOAs. While their original intent may have been to give neighborhood residents the power to keep their neighborhood well maintained, the notion of "well maintained" often includes "no messiness, no weeds, no edibles, no chickens" etc. Here in AZ, we had to have a State mandate for people to have solar panels because HOAs found them "ugly" (ok - they are pretty ugly but still!). The mandate read that an HOA could not stop a home owner from using solar energy. The wording of the mandate was a huge boon to those who wanted to dry their clothes with a solar dryer (clothesline) - which had also been nixed by HOAs as ugly (and probably "low class"). While I definitely enjoy aesthetics, I think we need to shift what we find beautiful and acceptable to be more in line with permaculture ethics.

If I had problems caused by invasive neighbors, I'd do something extremely irritating that is not covered in the bylaws, and use that thing to force them to leave me alone or change the rules. This could be a physical thing, like fish fertilizer or a truck with dirty sayings printed on it, or it could involve endless phone calls, petitions, questions and investigation.

If certain people are the problem, it may be necessary to accept that you have enemies and to take steps to make their lives more difficult. I would not limit my attacks to HOA related matters. An enemy can be fought on many fronts. If they recognize your willingness to leave no stone unturned, many will capitulate. This could lead to you becoming unpopular. I like to win, and this trumps most other concerns. An extremely confrontational approach is not for everyone.

I've left out an entertaining anecdote where I achieved silence from a pain in the ass neighbor. Comfort zone... Paul's, not mine.

-O. K., This is only funny once but One of the most common things banned by the H.O.A.s is the Right to line DRY !

Not just visible laundry, clotheslines too ! My #1 rule is never live in a town with a Stoplight, never live in a house where you cant
piss off of your own back steps ( to water a bush of course !) Big AL

Hang in there, Miles!

As long as you're willing to sell and move, then you can at least enjoy the BENEFIT of an Association, which is keeping property values high. A high price is a good price when you're on the way out.

Thanks all for letting me vent !

Ya Mike, if I can get out before the current bubble pops I will be OK.