HOMEOWNERS have been left stunned after being unexpectedly slapped with a $16,000 bill just days before Christmas.
Residents in a neighborhood in Rogers, Minnesota, which is about 25 miles away from Minneapolis, asserted that they were billed for house maintenance expenses that they believed were unjustified.
They received notice of the charges via mail and also claimed that bosses of the homeowner’s association threatened them with further penalties if they didn’t comply.
Caitlin Dahlgren, who lives in the Dutch Knolls neighborhood, was reportedly told she needed to pay $16,000, according to Fox affiliate KMSP-TV.
She claimed the bill was over a hailstorm that hit the community in July.
Meanwhile, Bridget Newman said officials have looked at her roof and determined that it didn’t need replacing.
“Our roofs were just replaced two years ago,” she said.
Newman has been left fearing for what might unfold if she doesn’t pay the fine.
“If we don’t pay it, we’ve been told we’ll be getting fees, fined, and they could potentially put a lien against our home if we don’t pay it,” she claimed.
Newman wants officials to provide more clarity and measures for homeowners to be rolled out.
“There needs to be more regulations from higher legislature,” she said.
Officials at Sharper Management, the company that manages the HOA, told KMSP-TV that homeowners should send the bill to their insurance provider.
Homeowners are likely to have an insurance policy known as a HO6, which protects against damage from events such as storms.
The policy also protects homeowners from losses stemming from theft incidents.
However, HO6 property insurance doesn’t cover losses suffered in floods and earthquakes.
What is an HOA?
One in five Americans live in an area with a Homeowners’ Association – or HOA. But what exactly is it that they do?
- An HOA is a homeowner’s association – an organization that aims to maintain a clean and cohesive place to live for its residents.
- Entire neighborhoods, subdivisions, condominiums, family homes, or townhouses within “a planned development” will often make up an HOA.
- They also act as a governing body for tenants, who run and fund the HOA through monthly fees.
- Their principal aims are to keep the community functioning and visually appealing and to maintain property values.
- They primarily focus on common areas of a neighborhood, such as roads, parks, and pools – but may also stipulate what residents can do with their properties, such as yards and driveways.
- Often these restrictions enforce uniformity on properties, for example, ensuring most houses look the same and all driveways are clear of weeds.
- An HOA rulebook of covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&R) is distributed to all residents, and an elected volunteer board of directors enforces these regulations.
- Breaking these rules can result in penalties such as fines and even litigation – as most HOAs are incorporated and subject to state law.
- HOAs are often the subject of controversy, with some members feeling that the rules are too punitive and restricting, or that the leadership has too much power.
- But others like that HOAs give communities the power of self-governance, and can ensure a degree of harmony between residents.
Nor does the insurance policy cover damage from nuclear hazards or standard wear and tear.
Experts at the NJM insurance company have shared tips for homeowners when it comes to filing a claim.
They should contact their insurance company before trying to protect their home from any further damage.
They should also prepare a document that determines the damage caused.
The U.S. Sun has approached Sharper Management for further comment.
It’s not just locals in Rogers, Minnesota, that have been hit with hefty bills.
Patricia Aldridge, who lives in Houston, claimed her homeowner’s association passed the buck when it came to repairing her fence after it was damaged in a hurricane.
She claimed that organization bosses told her that it was her responsibility to maintain it.
The U.S. Sun also reported how one woman was evicted from her home and forced to live in her car – just weeks before the holidays.
