Monthly walk throughs for compliance.

Do many of your HOA's do this to check on compliance? I think that this is a great thing due to many slakers who are even on the board and have knowing unapproved stuff around their units.

I suggested taking digital pics for the board to review only because there have been so many claims of 'it isn't there" and when you go back to look it's gone. ( a board member with an inappropriate item in the garage.. )

What is the routine at your HOA?

Do the police routinely patrol every neighborhood every day specifically looking for people who are violating any and evry ordnance? I doubt it, and if it were known they did, there would probably be a number of people complaining of "gestapo" tactics or saying "watch out - big brother is watching you." I've even read articles of people complaining it would be unfair for municipalities to install cameras at intersections to catch motorists running stop lights.

We don't make it a practice of routinely patrolling our community to see if we can "catch" someone breaking a rule. If someone complains, then we'll investigate it. Or, if a board or committee member happens to observe a violation while passing through a neighborhood, then it will be reported to the board, investigated, and dealt with accordingly. But, walkthroughs for the explicit purpose of looking for CCR or rule violations? No, we don't do that.

Usually we do a spring and fall walk through to see what maintenance is needed, but we've also caught violations and have sent out letters, accordingly.

Recently, our president asked all the board members to take a small part of the community and do a walk through ourselves to see what's going on because she can't catch everything our our property manager isn't out here every week. One good thing about this is that residents get to put a face with a name and they can also take to time to ask (and vent) about various issues - upon which the Board can take them back to the meeting (and encourage homeowners to show up and provide more information, along with an offer to help on on committees)

It's too bad that you feel you have to resort to policing your neighborhood and have to force people into compliance rather than having them following the rules willingly. Personally, I don't like the idea of going around seeing if you can catch neighbors in a violation. There's enough to do as it is, and I don't feel that's why my neighbors elected me. Plus, it's the sort of thing that earns HOAs bad reputations. Even in our HOA community, where we've had one major violation in the last three years that we had to enforce, I sometimes hear feedback from the local townsfolk about the "dictatorship" in our community (I am active in town and community affairs, so I know a lot of people around town.)

But, I understand. You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes.

Bruce,

I certainly understand what you are saying, but it IS the board's duty to enforce the CCRs. How can they do that unless they periodically check out the community to ensure everyone is in compliance? Boards that rely on members to inform them of violations, IMO, aren't doing their job. It's not the job of the member to enforce the CCRs. Even assn docs that state the member can enforce, it is usually prefaced by "if the board has not". IMO, many assn members do want the board to enforce the CCRs -- they are the "silent majority". Those who like to refer to the board as "dictators" or "the gestapo" are really in the minority and, in fact, are probably the ones who violate the CCRs!

Tod,

I don't know what previous thread you're referring to, but none of the posters to this thread mentioned any of the "violations" you refer to. Nicole only asked if board members check properties for violations.

BTW, how do you propose the board uphold their duty to enforce the CCRs if they don't periodically check to see if there are any violations? I'm speaking of valid violations, not the ridiculous ones you refer to.

Jane,

If these "incredibly petty items" are not actual CCR or rules violations, then the board should not be sending letters of violation. There will always be some members who regard all CCR restrictions as "petty"; however, they are restrictions that everyone must abide by. It's the duty of the BOD to enforce these CCR restrictions whether they agree with them or not. As for board-adopted rules, I agree they can be, and often are, "petty". If it's the latter you speak of, then the members of the assn need to speak up and insist upon some change. If the board doesn't listen, then perhaps the make-up of the board needs to change, either through the election process or by a recall.

I know we're lucky here in Glendale, AZ. The city has a large trash pick-up once a month. Sometimes a resident will put out something a week b/4 the scheduled date, but most times they adhere to the schedule.

But, speaking of trash cans. Why do some people have no qualms about putting them in their garage? It gets so hot here in AZ, the garage would be the last place I would want to store my trash can, but I see people doing it. Also, I wouldn't have room for a trash can and I've got a 3-car garage. Our p/u and little Toyota barely fit in the 2-car bay and the other bay is used for storage, including a work bench along the wall. Builders don't build garages like they used to!

Mary,

It gets hot here in Florida too but that is no reason your neighbors need to look at your garbage cans on a daily basis. One, we have racoons here who would like nothing better than to get into your garbage and strew it around. I suggest you freeze the odorous stuff and put them in the can the night before pickup. Or, at the very least, hide them behind some shrubs or whatever. Perhaps you might buy a trashmasher???