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DazedNConfused's avatar
DazedNConfused
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013

Rant! HOA "storing" issues.

Curious if others have had problems like this. Our neighborhood covenants state that we cannot store RVs at our homes. Since purchasing my 2014 Salem Hemisphere 346QBUD this past April, we have been dealing with numerous non-compliance letters from our community manager about storing our RV there. I secured covered off-site storage before we even took delivery of the coach. It is at my house for 2-3 days prior to a trip and 2-3 days after a trip which allows me to cool down the fridge, load our clothes and food, and then at the other end, clean the inside and outside, and perform routine maintenance.

I received another non-compliance letter last week while I was prepping for long-term winter storage and it was in my driveway for 4 days. I suggested to the community manager that there seems to be an issue revolving around the interpretation of "storing" and that I don't believe the RV being in my driveway while performing prep and maintenance activities is considered storing the RV there.

The letter I received today stated that the community manager discussed this with the board and they were in agreement that having it in my driveway -- even for a single day -- is considered storing it there and I am no longer allowed to bring it home and park it in the driveway.

Now I'm trying to figure out what to do. I don't wish to sell the RV -- but it's also unrealistic for me to perform prep and maintenance in the storage facility.

I am trying remove the emotion and approach this logically and legally -- and what rights, if any, I have. I am thinking of hiring a lawyer to help me interpret what the covenants say -- and if my prep and maintenance activities are or aren't considered storing.

Has anyone else dealt with this?

Thanks,
-DNC
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Nov 25, 2013
    gmcsmoke wrote:
    Pop-Pop C wrote:
    Guess I don't understand, why 2-4 day before and after a trip.
    When we had a S&B. USUALLY the night before and next PM on the return.


    because you have to re-caulk the outside, wash, wax, repack the bearings, rotate the tires, inspect for micro roof separations, winterize, dewinterize, vacuum the inside, dust the inside, shampoo the carpets, pack and unpack.

    Gee let me guess; you just load up and go?

    the op lives up to his name


    Well That is what we do, Vacuum before we leave, laundry is in hamper comes home gets washed and taken back to the trailer at the storage yard.
    Propane tanks removed and refilled as necessary, Perishable and non perishable food taken in totes, and ice chest.

    Maintenance, at the yard, installed shocks all four wheels, repacked wheel bearings, inspected brakes and adjusted. Just removed and replaced the furnace for burner cleaning and igniter adjustment.

    It is all a state of mind, and the right tools.
  • Pop-Pop_C's avatar
    Pop-Pop_C
    Explorer
    Nov 25, 2013
    wvcampers wrote:
    There may be more here than appears at first glance. If you do the simple math, 3 days in the driveway before and 3 days after a 4 day trip. will require 6 days in the driveway. 2 trips a month and the RV is in the driveway almost half of the month.

    The simple thing to do is find another storage area, where you can perform the maintenance. Maybe the HOA will agree to 48 hours to load and unload.
    .


    We did the maint. And cleaning at the last camp before we left.
  • stsmark's avatar
    stsmark
    Explorer
    Nov 24, 2013
    In the HOA where I live and am the VP of the assoc. I'm constantly accused of giving away the farm by the butt nugget previous directors but I think every situation stands on it's own merits. We own everything past the entrance, 2 lakes, streets, 19 acres of turf, pool, tennis courts, and a 34 space RV storage lot for 220 homes. I've lived here 27 years and thank god the developers had some real estate left over that would not fit for a home. It's saved some epic grief I'm sure.

    It helps me hugely if somebody just lets us know ahead of time that they have something going on for a couple days so I can answer a question when asked.
  • JEBar's avatar
    JEBar
    Explorer
    Nov 24, 2013
    have you considered running for a position on the board .... at one time we owned a couple of lots in a development with a POA where we had much the same issue .... in that case it was a water front community with a boat ramp .... some folks seem to find it impossible to believe that in such a development there might be people who would like to keep a boat in their driveway .... in our development the roads were not state maintained so POA rules covered everything within its borders .... your choices are pretty simple, get the rules changes, move, or live with them

    Jim
  • Atom_Ant's avatar
    Atom_Ant
    Explorer
    Nov 24, 2013
    gmcsmoke wrote:
    Pop-Pop C wrote:
    Guess I don't understand, why 2-4 day before and after a trip.
    When we had a S&B. USUALLY the night before and next PM on the return.


    because you have to re-caulk the outside, wash, wax, repack the bearings, rotate the tires, inspect for micro roof separations, winterize, dewinterize, vacuum the inside, dust the inside, shampoo the carpets, pack and unpack.

    gee let me guess; you just load up and go?

    the op lives up to his name
    wash and wax OK, but I would definitely start getting frowns and visits if I started repacking wheel bearings. The State park has wonderful concrete pads with full hookups (not to mention a nice park) and I do my maintenance there. Sometimes a pain for tool fetching, but if I plan it right it goes well.
  • wvcampers's avatar
    wvcampers
    Explorer
    Nov 24, 2013
    There may be more here than appears at first glance. If you do the simple math, 3 days in the driveway before and 3 days after a 4 day trip. will require 6 days in the driveway. 2 trips a month and the RV is in the driveway almost half of the month.

    The simple thing to do is find another storage area, where you can perform the maintenance. Maybe the HOA will agree to 48 hours to load and unload.
  • sdetweil's avatar
    sdetweil
    Explorer
    Nov 24, 2013
    this conversation made me go look at our deed restrictions..

    "no mobile homes, trailers, tent or shack shall be constructed, placed, altered, stored or permitted to remain on any lot."

    no definition of 'trailer'. As this is horse property, nearly everyone has at least one trailer.

    the restrictions require 75% owner vote to change... fat chance of that.
    so far, after 40 yrs in existence, they haven't found a way to do any enforcement, as no fines are allowed.

    they can put a lien for non-payment of the yearly assessment fee.. now $90/yr.
  • Ex-Tech's avatar
    Ex-Tech
    Explorer
    Nov 24, 2013
    I live in an HOA neighborhood and was the President of the HOA Board. I also own an RV.
    Our Board always had to make tough decisions regarding parking of RVs and other non-conforming vehicles. They were tough decisions because most of the people with RVs were wonderful neighbors. If we were to allow one resident to keep his beautiful RV in his drive, we would then have to extend the same permission to the ones that want to store their old, broken down RVs.

    Now, a little secret. Our Board has no jurisdiction over the public streets in our neighborhood so the covenants didn't apply if an RV was parked on the street in front of the owners home. Local laws allow a 72 hour period for RV parking on the street and we had to honor that.

    I have no problem with the 3-day rule. See if your HOA has jurisdiction over the street in front of your home.
  • timmac's avatar
    timmac
    Explorer
    Nov 24, 2013
    HOA issue threads always gets lots of posters, your best bet and anyone one else reading this is not to buy in a HOA, you just give up more of your personal rights..

    What's really funny is my entire business is HOA services, janitorial/repairs/etc, but myself I don't live in a HOA and never will..
  • gmcsmoke's avatar
    gmcsmoke
    Explorer
    Nov 23, 2013
    Pop-Pop C wrote:
    Guess I don't understand, why 2-4 day before and after a trip.
    When we had a S&B. USUALLY the night before and next PM on the return.


    because you have to re-caulk the outside, wash, wax, repack the bearings, rotate the tires, inspect for micro roof separations, winterize, dewinterize, vacuum the inside, dust the inside, shampoo the carpets, pack and unpack.

    gee let me guess; you just load up and go?

    the op lives up to his name

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