 In a bipartisan moment, Rep. Kristin Bahner and Rep. Shane Mekeland converse while presenting HF1268 to the House Housing Finance and Policy Committee March 4. The bill would create a homeowners association and common interest community reform package. (Photo by Andrew VonBank)
More than 1 million Minnesotans live under a homeowners association, and 86% say they are very happy with the results.
But when association boards or the managers they hire are ineffective, a homeowner can find a $56 fine turn into a foreclosure notice.
Time and again members of a legislative working group examining homeowners associations heard stories of homeowners being billed $2,000 in legal fees for asking a simple question, paying for roof repairs scheduled before a hailstorm hit, and receiving $20,000 assessments for septic repairs with no way to arrange a payment plan.
Even more troubling, say work group members, homeowners have no legal recourse to contest even egregious oversteps by property managers.
Addressing these issues is the goal of HF1268, which, as amended, was approved on a voice vote by the House Housing Finance and Policy Committee Tuesday and sent to the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee.
The bill aims to establish guidelines so the dream of home ownership doesn’t turn into a nightmare, said Rep. Kristin Bahner (DFL-Maple Grove), the bill sponsor, adding it would put common sense guardrails in place and would ensure board members know what their responsibilities are.
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