HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - December 8, 2017
Published: Fri, 12/08/17
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HOA Rats on Its Owners, and Our Experts Cheer
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In this week’s tip, we report on the sad tale of HOA owners who were slapped with a $35,000 fine by their local government for their short-term rental business, and it looks like their HOA may have turned them in.
It’s hard to say for sure, but a reasonable guess is that an HOA in Clearwater, Fla., reported a couple of its owners to its local municipality for violating short-term rental regulations in the city. Here’s the nutshell summary about that situation in Clearwater, based on the Tampa Bay Times report.
Homeowners, who also happen to be real estate agents, in an HOA were hauled before their board after their president documented 15 renters coming and going from the house in a four-month span; the minimum stay was three nights, the maximum was two weeks. The couple claimed ignorance of the HOA’s rental rules, and the board let the owners off with a warning.
Allegedly, the owners kept renting their home in violation of the HOA’s and the city’s short-term rental restrictions.
It’s not clear who alerted the Clearwater Municipal Code Enforcement Board of the couple’s alleged violations of the local code. But the couple landed there in November. A city code enforcement inspector did an online search and found the home listed on HomeAway.com. Then she was able to book a three-week stay at the home for $5,987.
Oops.
The couple, Nicole and Chris Dufala, were found in violation of Clearwater’s ordinance and fined $35,000 ($500 a day for their listings for just over two months), which the Tampa Bay Times calls the second-largest fine in the city for a violation of the ordinance. The newspaper reports that the Dufalas insist they’ll appeal the judgment.
It’s a safe assumption that the HOA gave the Clearwater code enforcement a heads up about this potential violation, says Jane F. Bolin, the founding member and chief marketing officer of PeytonBolin, a Florida-based law firm focused on community association law. And she thinks that’s a good move.
Find out why in our new article: https://www.hoaleader.com/members/3645.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
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Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
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There's No Need to Ignore the Holiday Spirit at Your HOA
In this week's tip, we chase the bah humbugs out of your holidays! No matter what holidays their residents celebrate, many HOAs use the end of the year holidaypalooza as an opportunity to hold an event to foster a stronger sense of community.
Click here to read full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/public/Theres-No-Need-Ignore-Holiday-Spirit-at-Your-HOA.cfm
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It's the Holidays--A Perfect Time for an HOA Community-Building Event
No matter what holidays their residents celebrate, many HOAs use the end of the year holidaypalooza as an opportunity to hold an event to foster a stronger sense of community.
Click here to read full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Its-HolidaysA-Perfect-Time-for-HOA-CommunityBuilding-Event.cfm
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Easier Enforcement of Your HOA's Rules: Steps to Create Enforceable Rules, Effective Fines, and a Fair Violation Process
Enforcing rules doesn't have to be a pitched, tense, and unpleasant battle between your homeowner association board and your homeowners. With some smart planning, you can make enforcing your HOA's rules fairer, quicker, easier, and less stressful. Join us for an in-depth webinar on December 14 led by two community association experts: a lawyer with more than a decade of hands-on experience in advising associations on how to create and enforce rules, along with a veteran association manager and recognized educator with insights on the day-to-day operations of rules enforcement. You'll get practical ideas, systems, and processes you can begin to take advantage of at your association the minute the webinar ends.
Click here to read full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/products/easier-enforcement-hoa-rules-a.cfm
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Filing an Insurance Claim for Your HOA? What to Know
In this week's tip, we're doing what we can to help our readers who've been harmed by one of the many disasters that have hit this country.
Click here to read full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/public/Filing-Insurance-Claim-for-Your-HOA-What-Know.cfm
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8 Post-Disaster Tips: How to File a Successful Insurance Claim for Your Condo or HOA
In the wake of entirely too many disasters, many of which have harmed our readers, it's critical to know how to file insurance claims for such unexpected damage. In fact, filing an insurance claim may not be a straightforward as you might think.
Click here to read full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/8-PostDisaster-Tips-How-File-Successful-Insurance-Claim-for-Your-Condo-or-HOA.cfm
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