COMPLAINT CHECK LIST FOR HOA COMPLAINTS The majority of complaints against any homeowner association fall in the same categories: 1) Excessive fees, fines, assessments 2) Unfair elections 3) Hostile Harassment 4) Misuse of membership funds 5) Selective law enforcement 6) Discrimination in service or use of facilities 7) Access to records 8) Violation of Fair Debt Credit Collection 9) Management misuse of funds 10) Unethical Law Firms Where to find help! 1) The first place to seek help is the phone book. Check, city, county, state and federal agencies with toll free numbers for example: a) Fair Housing Office b) Human Relations/Hate Crimes/etc c) HUD(Housing Discrimination/Disabled Americans Act for any minority complaint, abuse of seniors or abuse of disabled citizen, child or adult d) FTC(Federal Office deals with complaints of unfair business, deceptive advertising; unfair debt collection which includes homeowner association threatening letters to collect excessive fees added to late charges etc e) Civil Rights Offices/ Sheriff's Office can refer you f) Discrimination in election, access to books, open meetings etc... Send written complaint to Secretary of state to investigate violation of HOA failure to comply with Mutual Benefit Charter Statutes subject to state regulation etc. File Complaint Investigation through the office of local State Rep, or Senator, because their office gets better cooperation and has more clout. Report all violations and harassment to CEO of Community Associations Institute in Alex, VA to serve notice their promise to educate, organize and train professional help to enhance and guarantee residents of HOAs could live in harmony has been broken and their negligence in failure to enforce their own policy is detrimental to the well being of members investment etc. Write House Of Representatives Committee on Govt. Reform of Housing, Banking and Financing to request hearing on abuse of govt. finance developments.(FHA, HUD, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mack, VA, Federal Funds) are used to expand and increase number of HOAs. Complain to local City and County Commissioners about unfair property tax discrimination that forces property owners in HOAs to pay extra tax disguised as maintenance fees for street repair, lights etc. which are paid for from property tax by owners not living in an association...a practice that violates the constitutional right to equal protection. Complain to congress about non judicial foreclosure abuse of constitutional right to due process...an impact on bad economy... Attend County Commissioner meetings to protest on discrimination of property rights and selective law enforcement which violates public trust and enlist volunteers to picket for justice... Management firm violations should be reported to city, county and state agencies who license and bond them. Also check to see if they are certified by CAI and if so, send complaint to CAI Corp. Office, failure to comply with Certification. Looking for a Lawyer: |