Living in an area with a homeowner’s association helps to ensure that your property value is protected. All homeowners in the area are subjected to the bylaws and covenants. These can sometimes lead to a dispute between the association and a homeowner.
There are many things that can occur when a homeowner and the association don’t agree on something. The association may levy fines, and there may be other penalties possible.
What should you do if you get a violation notice?
One of the first things you should do is to read through the association information to determine if there’s actually a violation. Some homeowner’s associations have long-standing rules that don’t change. Others may have frequent updates to the rules. You need to have a copy of the most recent rules so you know if you’re in violation or not.
You might be able to work out a resolution with the association, but this isn’t always possible. You may have to go through alternative dispute resolution to get the matter handled. In extreme cases, legal action might be necessary. One thing that you shouldn’t ever do is try to ignore the issue. This could lead to mounting fines and other issues that are hard to overcome.
Understanding your options when you have a disagreement with the homeowner’s association is critical. This enables you to make a plan for addressing the matter. Because these cases sometimes escalate to litigation, you should start to develop a strategy for this as early in the case as possible. Working with someone who’s familiar with these cases can help you to determine what’s in your best interests.