Earthquake903

Earthquake903

Community Member • points

posts

comments

upvotes

FollowUnfollow

Premium

Premium user. Get details.

Yeah, that's "freedom" for ya

They exist, they're just not called HOAs. In the UK, for example, the private roads that exist within housing estates are maintained collectively by the homeowners through a resident association or they may hire an estate management company that every homeowner pays into. Same with co-op or condominium buildings where shared spaces and facilities (like lobbies and elevators) are collectively maintained. It's just the US has some notoriously restrictive ones that do s**t like count the number of tulips in your garden. But keep in mind that it's 100% voluntary. A majority could vote out the board of the HOA and re-write the bylaws any time they please.

In Australia they’re called strata and pretty much the same.

Sadly yes, a LOT of countries. For example, South Africa has an even bigger problem with them than the US. US version is mostly white collar crime. SA ones often have private security going around extorting money, causing property damage, even going as far as kîllîng people in the more remote areas. HOAs are too attractive to shîtty people that they'l never go away.

Honestly, I've lived all over the USA, but have never encountered a home owners association. I'm sure they exist, but they aren't as ubiquitous as these posts may imply

The house I own is in one of the only non HOA communities in the entire county. It's so nice to put your bins out when you want. Change your house paint colour to whatever you want...and we all leave each other alone. It's great.

There are building regulations in most countries and often the vary from town to town, sometimes even from one corner of a town to the other. Mainly things like a maximum of area that you are allowed to build on, how close to the neighbor you may build, how high your building and fence is allowed to be. But HOAs are a whole nother level

My mother lives in a group of 7 houses in Germany. They are bound to keep the outer appearance of the houses similar, so they have to decide together on certain aspects - which sometimes works good, sometimes not... It's rather uncommon to have such a binding agreement, though.

I am from the US, lived in five states, never encountered a HOA. I think it must be a rich suburban thing. When I lived in a cindi, there's was a monthly fee if you wanted to get grass mowed/path and parking cleared but if you mowed your own lawn and shoveled yourself there weren't any consequences beyond having to shovel/mow.

In Italy there are some gated community (like the Golf of Monticello near me) where the rules are way more strict than most HOA, but you have to actively search for them and houses prices are higher than normal. Most you have some local rules, like keep the garden free of pests and not plant trees near the border.

You only have to follow HOA rules if you make use of their services. Otherwise if you own the land, no one can force you to join a club. It might mean taking your own trash to the landfill or plowing your own driveway, but there's no obligation to join an HOA if you own the land and building outright.

The original idea was to keep a low life from parking wrecked cars on their lawn and letting the house crumble to slum conditions. But like any power in immature hands, it gets abused.

Not every where in USA.

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Just here I think. Makes Americans feel safe from “unsuitable people”.

Please post pics when you do.

How is trying to regulate home decor and lawn ornaments "government work".

HOAs do absolutely no government work. They do not pay for trash collection when public collection is available. They do not maintain public roads. They collectivize those services for a group of homes that would otherwise have to do it individually.

Having bought a house, I wasn't given the HOA bylaws until after I bought the house. Maybe that's on me for not seeking it out. But also it's an issue that it's not disclosed on the listing. Listings often tell you if there is an HOA fee or not, but not particulars about the HOA bylaws in that community. Honestly, that should be on the listing too.

Sure, but the commenters can’t c**p on the USA if they consider all these annoying facts. That’s the only reason some of them come to BP at all.

If you buy the house it's probably in your contract. Can't sign on the dotted line without agreeing. You could be evicted.