Tips for Navigating HOA Rules

Whether you’re downsizing or looking for the home of your dreams, when preparing to buy a house you may come across a home in a community with a homeowners association, also known as an HOA.

HOA’s are great for maintaining a neighborhood’s quality of life, which means enforcing rules you and your neighbors will need to follow. If you’re unfamiliar with how they work, here are a few quick tips about HOA rules you may not be aware of.

What Are Some HOA Rules?

Knowing some of the most common HOA rules beforehand will take the stress out of moving. These are standard guidelines you’ll find at most HOA’s:

• Resident behavior: Noise levels, trash disposal, and property maintenance are heavily enforced.
• Pet ownership: Restrictions may include the type of breed, size, quantity, and areas in the neighborhood where you can walk your pets.
• Vehicles and parking: Restrictions on the number of vehicles, types of vehicles, and where you can park can be expected.
• Renting property: There might be restrictions on subletting in certain communities.
• Landscaping: Restrictions on curb appeal maintenance and certain plants are in place to keep a cohesive neighborhood.

How to Respond if Your HOA Says You Broke a Rule

If you ever find yourself in a situation where your HOA says you broke a rule, don’t worry. Here’s how you can respond.

Don’t ignore it

Address the issue head-on, because pretending the problem doesn’t exist won’t help the situation.

Try and fix the violation

Document the steps you have taken to correct the violation:

• Write a letter outlining what you’ve done to resolve the issue
• Include images to support your case, if applicable

The more evidence you show the HOA that you’ve taken steps to correct the violation, the better. 

Consider legal counsel

It doesn’t hurt to seek legal counsel if you feel you’ve been wrongly penalized or are unsure of your homeowner’s rights.

What About Home Improvement Projects?

If you’re a fan of giving your home a makeover, certain projects may or may not require HOA approval before you can begin. Fortunately, Lemonade put together a quick overview of some projects that will or won’t require HOA approval: