|
NO
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LAWS? NO PROBLEM!
By
Jan Bergemann
Published
July 5, 2013
The
buzz about all the new laws that took effect this week is by far
from over yet. Watch a lot of people trying to enforce these
laws -- running against walls. It's a matter of time before
everybody gets used to it.
But
that leaves the question: What if there wouldn't be any specific
community association laws -- no boards to make rules and
enforce the statutes? You saw Eric's blog on Monday, who states
in the end: "...there's
no question that without laws there would simply be chaos."
Is
that really true, or can't we just imagine to live without all
these statutes, rules and regulations?
Let
me tell you that there are other ways to live happily together
without all these specific laws -- without this enforcement that
allows neighbors to levy fines against neighbors. Take a look at
this picture of a "condo":
The
building is actually forty years old, built in 1973 together
with two other buildings exactly alike. The picture was actually
taken from a balcony on the 7th floor of Building 2. The buildings are managed by a professional (licensed) building manager.
The owners have once a year a membership assembly. All serious decisions are made by membership vote.
Guess what: Two lawsuits in the three buildings (60 units to a building) since 1973 and they dealt once with windows and once with TV service -- both quality issues! Some windows were leaking and the quality of TV picture was poor! Both settled before going to
court. These lawsuits were directed against supplier, no fights
among unit owners or board members.
The
owners of these units: Most all of them sunbirds, normally
residing in big cities, who populate these units in summer --
when the weather is hopefully nice and warm.
Otherwise,
they all live happily ever after, say "Hi" to each
other in the elevator and stop for a chat. No fights over
parking, no towing. No fights over records, no nasty elections.
There are rentals, short term and long term -- no problem. There
are dogs -- no permit needed. The folks just enjoy spending
their summer in a beautiful environment.
But
I guess you figured it already out: These "condos" are
not located in Florida -- they are in Germany, actually in St.
Peter Ording at the North Sea. I took the picture from the
balcony of my Mom's unit. She'll be there for the summer --
having fun!
There
are no condo associations, no specific condo laws in Germany --
and there are no HOAs either. It just shows: Life can be great
-- especially without all these statutes regulating life in
Florida's condos and HOAs.
|
