Rules were made to be broken, right? Well, not entirely. Especially when your job is to keep homeowners happy. When rules aren’t followed, affected homeowners get cranky. And just who do they get cranky with? The HOA, of course.
If you’re on your community’s Homeowners Association, enforcing HOA rules might be black and white, or it could be a fine line. Nobody wants to feel like they’re being ridiculed for their every move. It’s their house, after all. On the other hand, they agreed to live in this community when they purchased the house, so they should expect to abide by the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs), for the most part, at least. What’s more, the violation of a rule is likely affecting somebody, so it’s only fair that it be enforced.
3 Tips for Enforcing HOA Rules / CC&Rs
Start With Communication
Oftentimes, a violation of a rule is a simple misunderstanding or even a pure accident. If a verbal “hey, were you aware of this?” is possible, start there. Things are much less likely to get hostile when you play the innocent role instead of placing blame. If a verbal is not possible, a call, note, email or text would be the next preference for this light touch communication.
Then a Warning
If the rule that has been broken is not corrected within a reasonable amount of time, then an official warning comes. This is typically done in writing, referencing the exact CC&R at hand. Post it on their door or stick it in their mailbox, but this is best done in a physical, written format.
If all Else Fails, Fines
Nobody wants it to come to this, but imposing a fine for a continuous HOA rule violation is a common recourse. Hopefully, once it comes to this the resident will undo his or her mistake.
About MoneyMinder for HOAs
MoneyMinder HOA Accounting Software helps busy board members collect fees, track finances and keep your HOA focused on its mission and goals while encouraging financial transparency and accountability.
- Track HOA dues & other income
- Create easy-to-understand reports
- Send statements to homeowners
- Integrate with third parties like bank accounts, Square and Paypal
- And so much more