Being on the board of a homeowners association (HOA) can be rewarding, as you can help shape a nice community to live in. Yet, it can also be difficult, as there is ample opportunity for problems between homeowners and the HOA board.
A good set of rules and regulations will be key, and the following tips can help with this:
1. Understand the law
Before you start making rules for your HOA, you need to understand the rules that apply to it. You need a comprehensive understanding of state and federal laws concerning housing. They dictate things such as when you have the right to turn someone away and what actions you can take if someone does not abide by your rules. Failing to understand them could mean some of the rules you create for the HOA are not only unenforceable but could put the HOA on the end of legal action if you try to enforce them.
2. Communicate rules clearly
You need to share the rules and regulations with the people you expect to abide by them. Try to explain things in multiple ways to make it easier for people to remember and understand them. If all you do is present homeowners with a dry, multi-page document when they first join, you shouldn’t be surprised if you have to deal with frequent breaches.
3. Apply rules fairly
If you create a rule, you need to apply it fairly. That means it must apply to everyone equally. If you start making one-off exceptions, you could find yourselves accused of favoritism or discrimination.
It may be wise to seek legal guidance while drawing up a set of rules and regulations as well as if any disputes over them occur.