41% of people living in Delaware live in an HOA, but did you know that HOA evictions are possible under the right circumstances? It seems counter-intuitive within such a tight-knit community, but it is possible.
Understanding how HOA evictions in Delaware work will make your time as a member easier and less stressful.
Listed below are 3 key pieces of information every HOA member should know about evictions. Continue reading to learn more!
1. Fines Come First
HOA fees in Delaware often depend on your location and the value of your home. People with more valuable homes tend to pay higher fees while enjoying greater sway during HOA meetings.
When a member fails to pay their dues, they'll need to find a way to pay the HOA back one way or another. As a deterrent, most HOAs enlist fines of up to 18% of those annual fees.
This is often enough to get a community member back on track, but if the money owed continues to rise, then further action will be necessary.
2. Majority Vote
After a certain amount of overdue payments goes by, it may turn to the HOA board to hold a vote about how to handle the situation.
Overdue fees aren't the only concern. If a member breaks policy or rules multiple again, the HOA can hold a similar vote on how to proceed. The severity of the action taken depends on the HOA rules in place.
For example, let's say a household continues to keep illegal pets on its property. The HOA should hold a meeting to discuss what to do about this problem.
The voted action could be anything from extra fines or bringing in authorities. The board could also come together to decide if it's worth keeping this household as a member of the community or not.
In all cases, the HOA will need to come to a majority vote to enact any kind of action.
3. Sale or Rental of Property
Once an HOA decides that an eviction is the only solution, they'll still require the evicted tenant to pay their overdue fees. Sometimes this comes in the form of renting or selling the tenant's previous property.
These actions should be used as a last resort after other punishments and fees failed. The tenant in question should have ample time to react and rectify the issues beforehand.
An HOA is a community-driven organization. If everyone fears a sudden eviction, there can never be trust between members.
Offload HOA Evictions to Experts
Knowing more about how to handle HOA evictions helps your association move forward. The problem is that coming together to instigate fines and selling a member's home can be a drain on a community.
That's why many HOAs tend to look toward professionals to handle these issues.
At PMI First State, our licensed experts have years of experience dealing with all kinds of HOA issues. Let us help your HOA thrive by getting our help with financial and administrative management, maintenance, HOA evictions, and more. Learn more by checking out our full-service association management services today!
