How a Tampa Bay Lightning fan outwitted petty Homeowners' Association

[FLAprogressive]

Steven Paul, 28, is a Tampa Bay Lightning season ticket holder who's justifiably excited with his team in the Eastern Conference finals, eight wins away from the Stanley Cup.

Like many other Bolts supporters, he flaunted that enthusiasm within his community. That is, until his Home Owner's Association crushed his freedom of expression like an over-reactive parent.

But Steven Paul is a hockey fan, which means he's both incredibly cynical and incredibly stubborn about his passions. So he got a little creative in his battle with the draconian rules of his neighborhood HOA — and appears to have won.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/How-Lightning-fan-outwitted-petty-HOA-over-playo?urn=nhl-wp4283

[me b zola]

1. I love it when anybody stands up to HOAs

---i especially love it when they win!

I loathe HOAs and wish more people would refuse to buy when that is part of the deal. I'm a "queen of my castle" kind of gal and couldn't own where someone had contractual rights to tell me what I can or can't do on my own property.

Go Bolts!

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. Non-HOA homeowners cannot do what they like on their property either.

[GKirk]

3. Exactly what I was thinking when

I read response #1. They are called zoning laws.

[me b zola]

5. Not the same thing

Mr z and i were wanting to buy a beautiful 20 acre lot when they told us about the HOA. If a majority of the others who belonged to the HOA wanted to build, change, or restrict something, then we would have been legally responsible to cooperate. So if a bunch of our neighbors, according to the real estate agent, wanted to build an olympic size swimming pool, we would have to pay for it to be built---or lose our home and property if we refused.

Not quite the same thing as zoning laws, would you agree?

[RB TexLa]

10. It's just on a differet scale if the majority of voters where I live want to build a new school and

vote to do so with property tax increases, I will have to pay or eventually they will take my home and property if I refuse.

[me b zola]

15. Sorry, but i see a huge difference between necessary government

...and being tied to the whims of my neighbors. As a citizen i have an obligation to support public schools for the common good to the community, both local and extended. But a pool, or whatever whimsy my neighbors may want? Nah, i believe your logic is flawed on this.

[RB TexLa]

19. The people where I live can also vote to build a rec center with two olympic size swimming pools

and raise property taxes to pay for it. Or a giant football stadium, or an airport, or a 200 acre business park, or any number of things that I or someone might not like paying for.

People who choose to live in an HOA know they are in one, if they don't like it move.

I don't live in an HOA and don't have any love for them, but you seem to be saying the "whimsy" of neighbors in a HOA should be dismissed and are evil but the "whimsy" of voters in a city or parish are like the word of God.

[me b zola]

22. You can't see the difference in what you just wrote?

VOTE. People can vote, thats how democracy works. HOAs dictate w/o government rules or regulations. The difference is government (we the people) vs cooperate (its just business intervening into every nook and cranny of our lives).

[RB TexLa]

25. When you typed that the realtor explained

"If a majority of the others who belonged to the HOA wanted to build, change, or restrict something, then we would have been legally responsible to cooperate."

How is that different than when my realtor said if a majority of those who vote want to build, change or restrict something then we would have to be legally responsible to cooperate?

Please, tell me how it's different? Only difference is one is a governemnt entity and the other is a private entity.

[me b zola]

26. Yes, government vs private

That is the difference.

[RB TexLa]

29. Not the only one. The people in an HOA don't have to live in an HOA. They don't have to pay and/or

borrow money to buy a home in one. They don't have to also then sign the agreement to the rules of the HOA when they buy the home. They don't have to also then pay their money to the HOA on a regular basis.

So, it's not the only difference. I guess there could be people so completely stupid as to not know they did/do all that and live in a HOA with restrictions they legally agreed to adhere to, but I have to think there are very few people that stupid, don't you?

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. I see. Yes, we pay into a fund so that large purchases or renovations can be made.

that fund also means that I'm not responsible for any outside issues. If my roof leaks, my HOA takes care of it. We employ a full time handyman who takes
care of most of the problems associated with homeownership.

HOAs have disadvantages but they have advantages also.

[Liberal_in_LA]

8. yep. Also permits are required to renovate houses, build fences, all sorts of things

[me b zola]

4. I have a lot more personal freedom in my non HOA home

then do those who subject themselves to HOAs. :)

If HOAs are your thing, well then who am I to stop you. But it is becoming increasingly more difficult to avoid them. So for people who don't have strong feelings either way i wish they would consider the restrictions they are putting on themselves and help to stop this creepy trend from spreading.

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. I like an orderly life. My HOA makes sure eveyyrone follows the rules.

[me b zola]

16. ROFLMAO

Your response sums up the issue. I prefer my neighbors not pull me into their control issues, just as i don't subject them to my flaws and hang-ups :)

[blueamy66]

18. No they don't.

The idiots pick and choose who and what they want to send violations too.

It's all about the CASH! The more violations, the more CASH!

It's a scam.

[Liberal_in_LA]

21. Not with my HOA. Only fines have been repeated parking violations - we have 2 car garages

Some try to park a 3rd vehicle where it doesn't belong rather than rent a third spot. After several warnings, some have left the dog poop on the ground. stuff like that.

[blueamy66]

23. My HOA cannot govern who parks in the streets,,,,it's up to the city.

So the steriod junkies 3 houses down can have 12 cars parked up and down the street EVERY night from 5 to 7 as they pump iron and sing rap music....and the HOA cannot do a thing about it.

I'm just gonna ram my $3000 car into their Hummer one night...if it is ever parked that close to my driveway again. OOOPS, it was an accident.

[Liberal_in_LA]

27. In my case, we have land within the community, that's where they fine people, not on the street

[Liberal_in_LA]

28. Not sure what you are doing with all that freedom. Hope it's legal

;-)

[Control-Z]

20. They have a hell of a of lot more freedom.

And when it comes to HOAs one has to always remember that there is basically no recourse for the often illegal whims of the board of directors.

The can make any rule they want, any day they want, and fine you any amount they want. They can even pocket a portion of the fines they collect.

And the sickest part of all? We pay a monthly fee that enables them.

[blueamy66]

6. Fuck the old goats that spy for HOAs

Go volunteer at hospice or at a library or a soup kitchen.

If you're that bored as a retiree, go back to work.

Jesus Christ...get a freaking life you HOA Nazis.

We got a violation for not asking to put up a basketball backboard...SEVEN FREAKING YEARS AFTER WE PUT IT UP. They are nuts.

[FLAprogressive]

9. I think a lot of HOA's are set up and ran by people on a power trip....

[blueamy66]

11. Yes, with nothing else to do with their time.

But hey, the house next door to us has been abandoned for over a year.

We had to call the HOA 5 times to get them to send someone out to cut down the 4 ft. high weeds.

But gosh darn if they didn't see my basketball backboard...you know, the one I put up SEVEN YEARS ago WITHOUT an Architectural Approval.

Idiots.

[1620rock]

13. There is no "private property" in America any more.

[mysuzuki2]

33. ya think?

[GKirk]

14. It sounds like your old goat...

...wasn't doing his/her job very well. It took seven years to notice your backboard?

[blueamy66]

17. Yes!!!

We got a SECOND notice, saying that we didn't respond to the first one and that we were being charged $50 for not responding.

I called and asked for proof of delivery, of which they had none. So I told them to wipe that fine off of their records....and they did.

Anyway, I filled out the ridiculous architectural paperwork for the Nazis and guess what? They APPROVED my backboard. What sweethearts they are.

My fiance loves his front and backyard. We have one of the most beautiful lots in the neighborhood, filled with bushes and plants and trees and flowers. He is out there every Saturday taking care of it...sweeping, weeding, planting, etc. So to get a freaking violation pissed him off to next Sunday.

[ornotna]

24. I got your HOA right here

It's been 7 years since I've used this beauty.

[ixion]

30. HOAs are a blight on the social fabric

in my opinion.

[mysuzuki2]

31. The phrase "petty homeowners association"

is a redundancy.

[FLAprogressive]

32. +1

[flvegan]

34. GO BOLTS!!!!

[JCMach1]

35. Would never live in a place with an HOA... it is damn unamerican!

[Keith Bee]

36. Spiteful unrec from a Caps fan

:argh: