SURPRISE!

HOA charging residents ‘emergency assessment

Article and Video Courtesy of 
FOX 35 NEWS -- ORLANDO

By Elizabeth Alvarez
Published November 21, 2008

 Watch VIDEO

          

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.  -- The Board of Directors for the Woodland Lakes Preserve, a subdivision in East Orange County is implementing an emergency assessment and it’s upsetting quite a few homeowners. 

In a letter sent to homeowners, the Board of Directors stated payments received after the due date will be subject to penalties and lien foreclosure action as determined b the governing documents and Florida law.

According to the Board there were several factors leading to the extra fee:

  • Approximately 20 percent of homeowners are not paying their regular hoa fees mostly due to foreclosure

  • The landscaping vendor changed

  • The association hired a landscaping consultant

  • Security and legal costs are over budget

  • Insurance costs are double the anticipated amount

Homeowners got a letter this week notifying them that members are being charged $662 for an emergency assessment that the Board of Directors passed on November 10th at a budget meeting.

  

The emergency assessment is due December 1st and homeowners are just finding out.

“We’re already strapped anyway with everything that’s going on,” said homeowner Michelle Smith. “And we have four kids.”

In a letter sent to homeowners, the Board of Directors stated payments received after the due date will be subject to penalties and lien foreclosure action as determined b the governing documents and Florida law.

   
“It was just shocking,” said Smith. “Because frankly we don’t get enough done around here to pay that amount of money.” But what was most appalling to homeowners like Smith?

“I feel bad for the people that have foreclosed homes and it’s not their fault,” she said “But its not our fault either.  I feel the subdivision should take care of that - the builder -- why do we have to get their costs?

The answer to that is - state law and the contract homeowners sign with their HOA.

 
Homeowners are meeting Friday evening to discuss seeking legal advice.  Many say they were never notified of the budget meeting last week which is a public meeting.

The HOAs attorney did not return calls Thursday.

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