Can a homeowners association be established after home purchase?

Full question:

When I bought my home in a subdivision 4 years ago there was not a home owners association, dues or restrictions. Now someone who will not reveal their name is sending notices that they will establish a HOA, meeting times and states that we will be required to pay dues starting 2010. Can they just decide that I have to pay dues when it was not apart of the contract when I purchased my home?

  • Category: Real Property
  • Subcategory: Homeowner's Association
  • Date:
  • State: Missouri

Answer:

A homeowners association (HOA) can be created if the governing documents (like the Declaration, Covenants, or CC&Rs) include provisions for establishing one after certain conditions are met, such as a specific percentage of homes being sold. It's crucial to review these documents to understand the authority for creating an HOA and imposing dues.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

Generally, if a homeowners association (HOA) was not established at the time of your home purchase, you cannot be forced to join one later unless the governing documents of the subdivision allow for it. It's important to review the property’s covenants or restrictions to see if there are provisions for creating an HOA after certain conditions are met.