HOA Literally Does a Crappy Job Whitewashing Hate in Their Neighbourhood

In Parker Colorado partners Aimee Whitchurch and Christel Conklin get to receive free community presents. One day it is “Kill The Gay” painted across their garage door, and another it is a noose laid at their front door.

Most HOA have rules about the appearance of garage doors. So when the HOA came over and painted (I use “painted” very loosely here) over the words in white paint (link to news video showing crappy whitewashing), where the garage door is otherwise brown, and obviously paid no attention to the work (there’s paint splatter all over the driveway, and the coverage is a mess) – it’s the little detail that says “this HOA are a bunch of shits”.

The HOA has a responsibility to make everyone’s lives safe, secure, and supportive. When a unit is targeted by hate (it is hate, plain and simple) – the board should be the first out there to offer whatever they can, and they should step up to the plate. The message should always be tolerance as an HOA is a communal living agreement, with many people, of all walks of life. If you fail to give up on one, you give up on all.

As a bonus gift, they are under constant surveillance from a neighbour who continually keeps a video camera pointed to their house! With such supportive neighbours who are so worried about the two women’s home and health, it should only me a matter of time before the footage is turned over and the culprits captured.

Condominium and HOA Fees vs. Fines

It should always be clarified that there is a very distinct difference between fees and fines for condominiums and HOAs.

Fees are a monthly or yearly amount that are levied to cover the maintenance of the common property – the building, hallways, plumbing, heating, roof and other building envelope issues. For HOAs it may be to maintain the streets, signage, and landscaping. In both cases the levy is set out years in a budget, it is approved by the board, and the costs are shared between owners based on a formula (usually equally or based on a unit’s percentage of the square footage).

Fines are the option of the board to impose on owners that violate any of the bylaws or quasi-official rules.  They are intended as a means to encourage compliance of the owners with the corporation or HOA rules.

When I talk about how important it is for Condominiums and HOAs to collect the money owe to them, and I support all legislative rules to ensure the organizations are paid what they are owed – I’m talking about the fees. It’s important that the condominium or HOA always be correctly funded as to their budget for the maintenance of the common property.

When it comes to collecting fines for by-law infractions, well, I think they can be collect at the bottom of the barrel. There are a bunch of reasons. The easiest arises from the ease that board use in levying them and the lack of any appeal or challenge to them. The board is judge, jury and executioner when it comes to applying fees. It’s a condo Star Chamber.

It’s truly sad that there are so many boards that use fines as cudgels on their neighbours, and more importantly, to make life unbearable in condominiums and HOAs. It’s especially noticeable that more and more HOAs have rules “for the board and loyal owners” and ones for “new and disliked owners”.

It’s scary – Stepford HOA scary.