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I am writing to encourage you to support the HRLNG (HOA Reform Leaders National Group) suggestions for changes to the State Laws in regard to HOA Reform.   The State of Washington has allowed HOAs the rights of municipalities even though they are not.   HOAs although initially set up for the benefit of the homeowners, quickly become mini dictatorships that do the homeowners more harm than good.  As there are no penalties in the law for HOA Board Members that violate the laws, and Board Members use the insurance and collective funds of the HOA to give themselves impunity from all wrong doing.  They then feel free to violate the Washington State HOA laws and can disregard any form of ethics.   HOAs board members then use unethical attorneys, and property managers to further abuse the homeowners.  Homeowners are the only actual stakeholders in an HOA, however are rarely included in the design of the laws.  We need laws to protect the homeowners.

While the HOA Board Members use the collective funds of the HOA and the insurance of the HOA to pay for their attorney fees, the Homeowners must risk their life savings and potentially lose their home to pay for their attorney fees.  Few members can afford the amount of money required to force their HOAs to follow the laws.  Thus HOAs have turned into virtual dictatorships.

Many of our legislators listen to an international company called CAI to decide what the laws should be for HOAs.   According to their website, CAI lobbies for HOA Attorneys and HOA Property Managers.  Thus our legislators are listening to a foreign entity to decide how to set up these virtual dictatorships that can then be bought by foreign companies.  This seems like quite a national security risk.  

As you may realize, over 30% of homes in Washington State are under some type of Home, Condo or other Association. 80% of new homes are under some form of HOA.  If this continues, your grandchildren will very likely be living in a private dictatorship right here in the USA, because they have no place else to live.

Many HOAs have covenants that are aimed at keeping the elderly, poor, disabled and others of protected classes out of the community.  These can be as simple as rules such as grass being required to be taller than 2” and shorter than 3” or changing the rules of what housing colors are allowed to force people to repaint their homes, or enforcing certain covenants on some but not others.   The elderly, poor, disabled and other protected classes may have more difficulty meeting these requirements than others for obvious reasons.

Currently an HOA can foreclose on someone’s home in a non-judicial foreclosure, for as little as a $2000 debt.   We are allowing people to have their homes taken away over a $2000 debt?  How does that make sense?

 

The laws HRLNG has proposed would reduce homelessness by helping to keep people in their homes, reduce foreclosures, increase affordable housing, protect property rights, keep seniors in their homes and protect them from abuse by corrupt boards, attorneys and property managers, and protect the vulnerable and people of color.

Please read HRLNG'S 20 simple reform suggestions at:  https://www.hoareformleaders.com.  Putting these laws in place would allow HOA homeowners to live in a safe environment.

I would like to meet with you over a Zoom meeting to discuss these proposals.  When would be a good date and time that you could meet?

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