OT: Swimming Pool owned by Condo or HOA

[psu1969a]

Our HOA is being forced to accept a heated salt water swimming pool by several homeowners with total disregard to the wishes of the majority. The developer states that since this was to be an amenity of the development and at least one homeowner wants the pool, we the majority have to accept and pay for its expenses. A few questions for anyone whose HOA/Condo has a pool. Our development is in Central/Northern PA.
* How much do you pay for liability insurance?
* What does it cost for maintenance?
* Do you have lifeguard?
* Any special rules to protect children (under 18) while using the pool?
* Do you allow outsiders, that is, guests of homeowners, namely: adults, children, etc?
* Any other recommendations about the use and/or operation would be appreciated.

 

[MJG-90]

* How much do you pay for liability insurance? I'm not positive as it's included in the liability insurance for the rest of the common areas in our neighborhood (we also have two ponds).

* What does it cost for maintenance? Runs about $15k, but ours is chemicals and I'm pretty sure is more expensive than salt water pools.

* Do you have lifeguard? Never.
* Any special rules to protect children (under 18) while using the pool? I think it's under 16, but whatever the age is, the rule is they must be accompanied by an adult.

* Do you allow outsiders, that is, guests of homeowners, namely: adults, children, etc? Two guest per household.

* Any other recommendations about the use and/or operation would be appreciated. Have strict rules and enforce them -- turn off key cards for anyone not following the rules.

 

[PS4814]

Here's my recommendation, if you don't like it move somewhere without a HOA. HOA's are second only to school boards for poor decision making ineffectual leadership and corruption. As you say you even have the votes to stop this improvement but have no power to follow through due to the developer. If those that want the pool get their way it's only the tip of the iceberg. Next will be tennis courts, fitness center, nature path etc...

Get out now.

 

[MJG-90]

HOA's are second only to school boards for poor decision making ineffectual leadership and corruption.

LOL. Corruption? In what way? I'm president of my HOA. I put in a good 100 hours per year for $0 in compensation. I must be doing it wrong.

 

[91Joe95]

Why is it mandatory? Did the builders advertise it when they were selling condos?

 

[LafayetteBear]

* How much do you pay for liability insurance? I'm not positive as it's included in the liability insurance for the rest of the common areas in our neighborhood (we also have two ponds).

Any day you can work in a Caddyshack reference is a good day.

 

[psu1969a]

* How much do you pay for liability insurance? I'm not positive as it's included in the liability insurance for the rest of the common areas in our neighborhood (we also have two ponds).

* What does it cost for maintenance? Runs about $15k, but ours is chemicals and I'm pretty sure is more expensive than salt water pools.

* Do you have lifeguard? Never.
* Any special rules to protect children (under 18) while using the pool? I think it's under 16, but whatever the age is, the rule is they must be accompanied by an adult.

* Do you allow outsiders, that is, guests of homeowners, namely: adults, children, etc? Two guest per household.

* Any other recommendations about the use and/or operation would be appreciated. Have strict rules and enforce them -- turn off key cards for anyone not following the rules.

Thank you for your time and comments.

 

[PSU87]

Here's my recommendation, if you don't like it move somewhere without a HOA. HOA's are second only to school boards for poor decision making ineffectual leadership and corruption. As you say you even have the votes to stop this improvement but have no power to follow through due to the developer. If those that want the pool get their way it's only the tip of the iceberg. Next will be tennis courts, fitness center, nature path etc...

Get out now.

Well said. Unfortunately the courts have upheld the power of Hoas time and again.
Will never again live in a deed restricted or hoa community. Ever.

 

[AvalonJohn]

Being the President of my HOA, I've never heard of the minority rules? Get an attorney and charge the bills to the HOA. Developers hate Real Estate attorneys.

 

[LionDeNittany]

LOL. Corruption? In what way? I'm president of my HOA. I put in a good 100 hours per year for $0 in compensation. I must be doing it wrong.

I am as well... well not president but on the board. Probably double that in hours per year.

No matter what decision is made many will complain.

Just the nature of things.

Ldn

 

[wbcincy]

Here's my recommendation, if you don't like it move somewhere without a HOA. HOA's are second only to school boards for poor decision making ineffectual leadership and corruption. As you say you even have the votes to stop this improvement but have no power to follow through due to the developer. If those that want the pool get their way it's only the tip of the iceberg. Next will be tennis courts, fitness center, nature path etc...

Get out now.

Yes, tennis courts, fitness center, nature path, etc will all be next if that's what the developer advertised and people bought into the community based on those advertisements. They don't "have the votes," they bought into a community knowing this was promised.

Being the President of my HOA, I've never heard of the minority rules? Get an attorney and charge the bills to the HOA. Developers hate Real Estate attorneys.

The only way real estate attorneys are going to become a problem in this scenario is if the developer does NOT build the pool. If they promised a pool to buyers, the developer is obligated to build it. If the majority doesn't want a pool, they shouldn't have bought into a community that promised to build one.

 

[Delco Lion]

Just curious, how old is the development and why wasn't the pool already built?

 

[bison13]

Moved to MD and first two places I lived had HOA's. It was awful dealing with them. They made me paint my front door again because the paint that I used didnt match one of the two allowed colors, even though I used the exact same paint as a neighbor in my court. We bought it together at the only store that sold that exact color, and they OK'd theirs but not mine. Shady how only that store sells it and only in quarts or more. Took them to court over it and won but all sorts of silly stuff from that point on with them.

Moved to a different one and they never took care of the snow in the winter and in the spring their lawn crew shot a rock to break my storm door, took over a month to get a new one as they told me that if I do it, I pay for it. Decided I was moving immediately and told the realtor no HOA's. It's been great without those stupid community 'rules' that only apply to certain people and even better to put that extra money towards my mortgage principle every month.

 

[nitanee123]

Why bother living in a community where you are subject to restrictions and an HOA board that is probably comprised of retired folks on power trips if you don’t even enjoy the one benefit of having amenities of which the costs are divided amongst all other home owners?

 

[ILLINOISLION]

HOAs like everything else in life can be good and can be bad. We have 118 homes in my community with a HOA.

Sometimes Board members are on power trips, but more often the individuals are Board members because no one else gives a shit.

Some residents are appreciative that the rules and regs are there, others have never nor will ever look at them, period. Some chronic complainers always complain, but have never once come to our bi-monthly homeowner meetings or ever once read our monthly community newsletters.

When we have icey streets, some think we should have salted sooner or used more salt. Others think there’s no need to salt because the ice will melt and the salt effects the grass and their pet’s paws. Others won’t even know there’s ice outside and we always have one or two that would prefer using pepper to salt.

In summer, people get upset when the grass cutting / edging / trimming isn’t done on Wed. Guess what, it rained. And why isn’t their lawn cut first in the morning? Others, too much noise in the morning, start at the other end of the complex.

And of course ANYTIME dues are increased it’s like a holy war. But we paint your house every five years.....that’s included in your dues. “Oh yeah, I forgot about that.” But we just replaced five bushes and re-mulched your front yard. “Oh yeah, I forgot about that.” And guess what: we had to pay to replace our 39 street lights after 25 years!

Sorry, this is a sensitive subject. I was a Board Member of our HOA for five thankless years and have been on the Landscape Committee for the last few thankless years.

There are bad and are corrupt HOAs out there, no question about it. But many of those are because homeowners don’t participate in the process. Sorta like voting, if you don’t vote you lose the right to criticize.