Should homeowner's associations be allowed to ban solar panels/clotheslines? (lawyers, border)
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I'm by no means a dirty person. I have no desire to have junk cars around my dwelling. But, truthfully, I just don't care what the neighbors do with their yards. That's their problem, not mine. If they want old cars or brown lawns or whatever, so what? It's not my property. As long as I don't have an illegal meth lab going on (or some other illegal activity) over there or a bunch of morons with big mouths or loud music, then it really doesn't matter to me.
And back to clotheslines... well if I see a clothesline, I just know they are smarter and more thrifty than those around them. Same thing if I see someone with a manual push reel mower.
But if a house is surrounded by junk cars, the occupants are more likely (although perhaps not certain) to be the type who enjoy loud heavy metal music at all hours accompanied by raucous late night drinking parties and a tendency to start a fight should you object to their Harley revvin' contest at 3:00a. Garage bands, kids with skateboard ramps in the front yard, ... gee, what's not to like?
I'm by no means a dirty person. I have no desire to have junk cars around my dwelling. But, truthfully, I just don't care what the neighbors do with their yards. That's their problem, not mine. If they want old cars or brown lawns or whatever, so what? It's not my property. As long as I don't have an illegal meth lab going on (or some other illegal activity) over there or a bunch of morons with big mouths or loud music, then it really doesn't matter to me.
And back to clotheslines... well if I see a clothesline, I just know they are smarter and more thrifty than those around them. Same thing if I see someone with a manual push reel mower.
^I hardly think it's a sign of intelligence or high IQ. Some of these educated "greenies" actually come across as being kind of slow.
You didn't answer whether you are a home owner or not, but if you were, you would understand why the condition of others homes can affect your own homes value when you go to sell.
But if a house is surrounded by junk cars, the occupants are more likely (although perhaps not certain) to be the type who enjoy loud heavy metal music at all hours accompanied by raucous late night drinking parties and a tendency to start a fight should you object to their Harley revvin' contest at 3:00a. Garage bands, kids with skateboard ramps in the front yard, ... gee, what's not to like?
I would certainly agree with that ! I think there has to be a balance though and clothes lines or solar panels should hardly fall into the "no-no" category of what is considered anti-social.
I personally would not be terribly happy having a junk yard next door and as you say it does imply a certain "laisser faire" attitude which might lead to less savoury traits than a simple disagreement on esthetic judgement. Though not necessarily to be fair either.
At the end of the day though unless someone is actually causing harm ( such as noise nuisance, attracting vermin because of too much garbage etc.. ) then I think most of us should take a chill pill and realise that we all have different views on what "home" means. There is a difference between a house looking untidy and a house which should be condemned ...
I prefer houses which look neat like many people but I have no problem with some variation in standards. Within limits as as stated above .
Until I lived in the US, I had never even thought that anyone could take issue with something as harmless as a clothes line or could object to solar panels on a modern average house... And I am still bemused by it all I must admit.
But if a house is surrounded by junk cars, the occupants are more likely (although perhaps not certain) to be the type who enjoy loud heavy metal music at all hours accompanied by raucous late night drinking parties and a tendency to start a fight should you object to their Harley revvin' contest at 3:00a. Garage bands, kids with skateboard ramps in the front yard, ... gee, what's not to like?
I must admit, you're right on this. Not always, but often. Well... as long as it ends with a couple of motor blocks on the lawn, a derelict car or two on the street, and a transmission in the flower garden, I'm okay with it--as long as I don't have to hear some horrid noisy excuse for music.
Seriously, though, you're right. I think there tends to be a correlation there. That, and also with college students (living together in apartments). They are HORRIBLE for loud music and parties as well! Ahhhhh! Now my blood pressure is up just thinking about it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mooseketeer
Until I lived in the US, I had never even thought that anyone could take issue with something as harmless as a clothes line or could object to solar panels on a modern average house... And I am still bemused by it all I must admit.
Until I lived in the US, I had never even thought that anyone could take issue with something as harmless as a clothes line or could object to solar panels on a modern average house... And I am still bemused by it all I must admit.
I dont think it was an issue until gaited communities and HOA became popular. When I was growing up many of the houses in my neighborhood, including ours, had clothes lines. And in my parents rural hometown, where I live now, everyone had clothes lines and most still do.
There are studies that show being in an HOA helps to maintain property values. This happens by helping to maintain the community - and by helping to limit the run down individual properties.
There are "good" HOA's and their are "bad" HOA's - there is no question about this. But, owners have the power (which they have to use) to make their HOA one of the "good" ones.
With regard to our property in Las Vegas - we actually have two (2) HOA's to contend with - the "Master" hoa which is responsible for the community as a whole including the large parks/playgrounds, the library, the public pool, the walking trails, the roads, the landscaping etc. Then there is the sub association which deals with the 151 homes within the community where our home is. All this costs $160.00 a month - and its well worth it.
Some of these stories of HOA hell sound too ridiculous to be true. I know that lots of people like to exaggerate, things get taken out of context, etc... the advice to get involved is the best bet if you feel you are being treated unfairly. HOA's are now fascist? Come on, I know it fun to make fun of stuff we think is weird but let's not make mountains out of molehills. Most HOA's are not as bad as many on this thread would lead you to believe. At least, not around here. There wouldn't be so many of them if they were so completely horrible. Don't paint your house an ugly color and don't leave crap all over the yard typically sums up most of them.
I have found some of the responses here so bizarre they make me laugh. Someone said I want my freedom to do what I want and HOA's don't allow that. HOA's are fascist, etc.
Bottom line. IF YOU DON"T LIKE TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT HAS RESTRICTIONS, DON'T BUY THERE. Gee how hard was that.
Some people like them, some don't. Again freedom of choice. Because some one has a different point of view than you doesn't make them fascist or socialist or elitist.
HOA's are just what the letters stand for, Home OWNERS Association. It is a free country. If I want to live with those restrictions it is MY FREE CHOICE.
The home OWNERS have the ability to amend the rules. If the majority of the home owners don't want clothes lines or solar panels , they have spoken. Majority rules. If you don't like it. Work to get it changed or Move out.
You chose to live there. If the rules become to harsh for you. Move out.
Some have said HOA's should be outlawed. Ridiculous. Again, freedom of choice.
I have found some of the responses here so bizarre they make me laugh. Someone said I want my freedom to do what I want and HOA's don't allow that. HOA's are fascist, etc.
Bottom line. IF YOU DON"T LIKE TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT HAS RESTRICTIONS, DON'T BUY THERE. Gee how hard was that.
Some people like them, some don't. Again freedom of choice. Because some one has a different point of view than you doesn't make them fascist or socialist or elitist.
HOA's are just what the letters stand for, Home OWNERS Association. It is a free country. If I want to live with those restrictions it is MY FREE CHOICE.
The home OWNERS have the ability to amend the rules. If the majority of the home owners don't want clothes lines or solar panels , they have spoken. Majority rules. If you don't like it. Work to get it changed or Move out.
You chose to live there. If the rules become to harsh for you. Move out.
Some have said HOA's should be outlawed. Ridiculous. Again, freedom of choice.
If you read the ordinances for the county you are led to believe that you will be protected if your neighbor does not abide by the rules - when the county writes something that can not be enforced, is that my fault - HELLO NO I tried to participate. When someone LIES to a deputy sheriff while that deputy is doing his job(sorta) then he risks going to jail - just ask D. Sullivan I think he would agree to that ??? Move I will but I'll be Fuc*** if I am going to take less than what my house is worth because Num Nuts has a mental condition and can't clean up his act..... and the county just ignores it. "feel good laws" was what one inspector told me the ordinances represented - I would like to see his neighborhood and will bet that he doesn't live near anything like this
If the majority of the home owners don't want clothes lines or solar panels , they have spoken. Majority rules.
My original point was that we already forbid HOAs from doing quite a few different things, for public policy reasons.
The FCC has regulations about what sorts of satellite dishes must be permitted (for some reason, this is something HOAs tend to ignore, since a lot of them get sued in court and lose over satellite dishes).
HOAs cannot - for instance - require you to maintain a propane tank on your property that feeds an "eternal flame" simply because "it makes things look prettier." As a matter of public policy, certain wasteful behaviors cannot be required by an HOA.
I'm looking at this from the public policy perspective - should any HOA have the power to ban things such as solar panels, clotheslines, natural pools, or xeriscaping (in place of grass)?
Perhaps not. Perhaps the public policy arguments overwhelm the 'preferential' arguments that could be made by some HOAs.
In any case, the result of these policies is to increase personal freedom.
If we ensure by law that all homeowners can use solar panels or clotheslines if they so choose, that is an overall increase in American liberty.
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Same thing if I see someone with a manual push reel mower. 
