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Article Courtesy of The
Cool Down
By Demitri Fierro
Published July 22, 2024
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Homeowners value the opportunity to create their own personal sanctuary. This
can include reducing their energy consumption and the impact their home makes.
Some in Florida are getting protections for those freedoms. As detailed in the
Daytona Beach News-Journal, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that limits
homeowners associations' control and may fine them for excessive rules on
residents.
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The law has generated
much conversation, with many users commenting on the
development on Reddit.
"Anything that stops HOA overreach is a good thing," said
one user.
Homeowners associations were made to enforce uniform
standards, create community, and collect dues for
neighborhood services. Over the years, residents have
experienced increased arbitrary fees, restrictions on
parking and home appearance, or minimal disclosure of budget
information. In addition, HOAs have been caught preventing
homeowners from making money-saving, eco-friendly updates to
their homes, including adding rooftop solar panels or
installing native plant lawns.
The state law was one
of several that pushed for what has been dubbed a
Homeowner's Bill of Rights. This bill would prevent
practices such as banning contractors from a homeowner's
property or fining those who leave their garbage at the curb
within 24 hours of scheduled trash collection. |
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On the flip side, this has allowed homeowners to embrace eco-friendly
practices such as setting up vegetable gardens and clotheslines to lower the
amount of planet-heating gases in the air.
In Florida, HOAs are now required to be more transparent and maintain
official records for a minimum of seven years. To keep the rulings in
effect, appointed officials to HOAs have been mandated to complete best
practices training within the first 90 days in the role and repeat it every
four years.
HOA management firms are expected to be easier to locate. They are required
to attend at least one annual board or member meeting and provide
information for every HOA manager assigned to the association.
The changes made for HOAs in Florida were a sign of residents everywhere
wanting flexibility in what they do to their homes, including fun and
thoughtful approaches to lowering home energy bills. One homeowner shared
how they managed to create a pollinator-friendly garden that looked tidy and
intentional to appease their HOA.
"All states should do this," commented one Reddit user.
"I'm happy to report that I live in an HOA that already does all these
things, except for the training," wrote another.
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