Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Washington

Homeowners Association Fees

We feel our Homeowners Association fees are much too high, and the HA is overstepping their bounds. I understand having an association to ensure people don't paint their house chartreuse, or start a used car lot on their property, but I definitely feel like the association is being intrusive; for example, installing speed bumps on the road, and hiring a landscaping company to take care of the strip of land on the other side of the road that each homeowner owns as part of their property so ''it all looks the same''. We are very unhappy and feel like we have been railroaded, as it is a farly new neighborhood (we've lived here 3 years) and had no prior warning that we would be hit with these exhorbitant fees. What, if anything, do you suggest that won't completely alienate us from our neighbors, aside from moving (which we are seriously considering).

Thank you


Asked on 5/25/07, 12:22 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Elizabeth Powell ELizabeth Powell PS Inc

Re: Homeowners Association Fees

Honestly, you can leave the HOA or join them. You can run for office, and have a say in how the HOA is run, or put up with whatever control freak is currently in charge.

You can check with your county land use department to determine whether the speed bumps were permitted as per county code, or not. If they were not, you can demand they be removed.

Taking care of community landscaping is fairly typical. You can review the hiring process, and make sure you are not paying the HOA's president's brother at six times the going rate. As a dues paying member you can ask to look at the books - financial and procedural - and the by-laws of the organization.

HOAs are governed by a specific title of the RCWs; off the top of my head I don't recall the title number. Look at 19 through 23, it is in there somewhere.

Or think again about moving. There are times and places where a HOA is a benefit, but if the attitude makes you crazy you will be happier elsewhere.

Hope this helps a little bit.

Elizabeth Powell

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Answered on 5/25/07, 12:35 am


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