SS: New Neighbor who is a total B!#$%

[Kevster]

I am the HOA president of my small 8-townhome complex. I got this thankless job because I was late to the meeting thanks to work and traffic. We only hold 1-2 meetings a year because it is a pain to get everyone together and we need at least 5 owners together to get any business done. My complex has many problems creeping up right now including subterrainian termites, decks suffering from wood rot, a back fence that is in serious need of repair and corrections, and a substantial increase in our insurance costs due to the increase in value of our townhomes. Add to that that we have a minor dues collection problem with one owner that we have worked out a payment plan with, and we have a lot going on right now here. It's a lot that my wife and I have to take care of on top of the fact that I already have a busy life as it is.

A townhome in our complex was sold about 2 months ago to an older single woman who moved in about 6 weeks ago. I have not even met this woman yet and she is already pissing me off with her numerous emails and phone messages. This woman is very insistent that we have to paint the complex. Now. I have tried to politely explain to her that we have many projects and issues with higher priority and we will have to address painting when we have enough money to cover the big cost. She didn't like my answer and sent a very rude reply. She also stated that she wanted her deck repainted. I again replied politely and she didn't like my response again and proceeded to tell me she could do my job for me if I can't do these things for her (she claims to be very aware of what is going on in our complex but truthfully she has only knows about half of what is going on right now).

She now wants to call an HOA meeting because she is a pushy middle-aged b!@#& and she wants to put her needs in front of everyone else's more urgent problems. I have tried to be tactful and polite, but I am nearing my end with this person.

Any thoughts or advice on how I can deal with this incredibly annoying, aggressive woman without me losing it and unleashing a tirade of insults at her in front of everyone?

[ShawnLee]

Get someone else in the society to explain your POV to her, if she won't listen, then take it to the next step. Have a meeting, destroy her ideas publically. You've tried being nice, and she won't listen, you need to step it up, I'd say.

[ufcrusher]

Most HOA are only responsible for the common grounds and trying to foster good relations between neigbors. I would tell the woman, that every owner is responsible for the care of their own property and that the HOA association is there to deal with the issues that pertain to the entire community, such as common areas. THe HOA can prescibe the colors but she has to do the work and is responsible for the costs. Tell her that as you hand her a copy of the rules.

[Kevster]

Most HOA are only responsible for the common grounds and trying to foster good relations between neigbors. I would tell the woman, that every owner is responsible for the care of their own property and that the HOA association is there to deal with the issues that pertain to the entire community, such as common areas. THe HOA can prescibe the colors but she has to do the work and is responsible for the costs. Tell her that as you hand her a copy of the rules.

Our way our complex is built there are 2 buildings of 4 units together. We each have a yard in either the front or the read of each townhome. The HOA is reponsible for everything on the outside of the building including the roof, termites, deck balconies, external lights, etc. The owner is responsible for all things inside. This has been all spelled out in out CC&Rs.

We just don't have the money right now to paint the buildings - it will likely cost a LOT to do and require a special assessment that I am not prepared to pay for and I would not ask anyone else to pay at this time either. I tried to explain this to her, but she is insistent on it because her real estate agent told her it would be worth more if we painted the place. This leads me to believe that she is going to try and flip her property within a couple years. So she is again just thinking about herself and what she can get us to do. Meanwhile, I have a deck I can't go out on right now because of 25 year old rotten boards that need to be replaced and repaired since my deck was hit by either a trash truck or moving van.

[Maarchk]

I would have to say, tell her if she can get a meeting together with everyone, then you will talk about her issues. And then go to the meeting and set up a list of needs that the community has. Let her list hers out along with the bigger community needs such as your termites and rotting boards and everything. Then have the group rank the problems out by importance. And if painting a single house ranks far below saving the community from ants... well, thats just a shame for her...

[brainsmile]

how bout you just get some quotes and that will support your postion of costs being excessive at this time

[Kevster]

I actually have a list of bids already from several contractors for the rotten decking and fence projects. We have been trying to get a vote on the matter via email. This has been a long-standing issue for the last year and it is sometimes difficult to find contractors willing to deal with a small HOA. Subterrainian termites are an ongoing problem for anyone living in our area - we have to keep on them as much as possible with regular inspections and spot treatments (which cost around $200-$500 per visit depending on the severity). The last thing I want to do is have to get the rear block of townhomes tented again since 3 out of the 4 of them had new infestations this year. We also have an cash problem since we have a lot on the table to be done and not nearly enough to cover it all in the next 6 months. Hence we had to prioritize our numerous projects.

To follow up on your suggestion Maarchk, I already generated a list of priorities and distributed them to everyone and 5 out of the 7 other owners agreed with my assessment of our problems. Anything big is going to require a special assessment. That is something I want to avoid if possible because I can't afford it myself right now and I have no idea what my neighbor's situations are.

What really sucks about this whole situation is that when my wife and I first bought into this complex every owner was very nice and cordial with everyone. We were able to deal with problems quietly and without much fuss. Now, we have two new owners within the last year and they have completely upset the nice balance we had. What is weird is I am the youngest of any of the owners by at least 10 years and I now have to tell this new person how to behave like an adult human being.

[Maarchk]

Sounds like a rough deal man. Good luck with all that. You seem to be holding very level headed and doing much better then most people. I probably would have been a bit more upset by now. I hope it works out well, and its too bad you can't have a fast interview before the people move in. How long have you been in charge of the HOA? Can you hold off long enough to get someone else in the pres chair?

[Kevster]

I was nominated by the last HOA president and voted in unaminously just last March. At that time we didn't have all this going on and the former president has been helping me out with old issues like the fences. He called me the other night asking me how it was going because he is also copied on the email traffic and he got the feeling that this new owner is something akin to hellspawn. He was HOA president for 2 years because nobody else wanted the position - he also felt bad about how everything has snowballed the last couple of months. Honestly - neither of us saw this coming.

[yippiekiyeh]

You're the president, regulate like one! Then if she complains... say I'm the Prez Biatch! Bow down! Bow Down!

Okay not the way to do it, but it would make for an interesting showdown.

As president you should have some kind of power on what should be done and whatnaught. Use your executive privilege and get the things done right.

[ialsohaveadream]

Tell her:
1. Your list of priorities
2. The cost of painting
3. The cost of the more important priorities
4. She can run for president herself if she disagrees with those priorities. (then have everyone vote for you instead) :)

[faither]

You've tried being nice. Explain the facts of life at an open meeting and if she's not happy, give her the job. Good luck!

[Memo]

I've been HOA president and I feel for ya man. But then again...I'm pushing for my complex to be painted right now as well :P. You could always hold a meeting and call a vote on the paint. I'm sure the majority of the other members will vote no if they know of the situation.

[NullUnit2000]

Push her down the stairs. That way it'll look like an accident. :dodgy:

[Maarchk]

Push her down the stairs. That way it'll look like an accident. :dodgy:

"I'll shoot you and say you fell in the kitchen."