Article Courtesy
of Myrtle Beach Online
By Steve Houser
Published March 2, 2016
The long-awaited and much anticipated study regarding recommendations to the
Legislature on a much-needed comprehensive South Carolina HOA law has now
been published. The committee chaired by local Sen. Luke Rankin (and
including Rep. Mike Ryhall), was acutely and woefully deficient in any
substantial recommendations to the Legislature.
After a cursory review, one can quickly discern the study was a farcical
exercise and clearly a waste of time regarding any serious recommendations
to sensibly regulate our state’s HOAs. But the study succeeded in its
primary objective. That objective, to those not closely following the issue,
was to provide political cover for our legislators as they obediently
support their special interest political donors and their financial concerns
while insuring they have the moral and financial support required in a
re-election this year.
It was clearly apparent the committee was heavily weighted to ensure the
special interests of the developers, Realtors, property management
companies, and attorneys were all well represented and very well controlled
regarding insuring there was limited representation of the homeowner’s
interests. The committee successfully ignored the basic fundamental right of
all property owners as citizens of their state and country; to have input
and a voice in the management of their investment in an HOA controlled
community.
Apparently the goal of the political leaders on the committee was to
document the selfish positions and objectives of the special interests and
their dutifully paid attorneys in maintaining the current state of no
regulation. This is in contrast to determining the current level of abuse
and implement some required control on these special interests as they
function unabated and unregulated in our state.
What is very interesting is our legislators cannot seem to form an opinion
on their own regarding the need for an HOA law but seem to be only
interested in inserting their finger in the political winds to determine
what is politically expedient for their own future in politics. They
patiently listened to testimony, letters, and emails and wrote nearly all of
these occurrences off as isolated incidents and aberrations that do not
require any type of regulation.
If one endeavors to read the report, it is easy to discern the committee,
especially the chair, took great care as to not take any controversial
positions and leave all options open to future political questions. How is
it possible to absorb all of this information and not be able to form a
clearly defined, lucid and well-defined position on these issues? The
objective, as with most politicians, is to ensure they can play all sides of
the fence in the upcoming election and not to damage their re-election
chances or fully evade the issue entirely.
Finally during this election year, when we voters choose who will represent
our best interests in our Legislature, we need to ask each candidate some
vital and fundamental questions regarding a fair and meaningful HOA law in
South Carolina. The question we must get answered is whether they are going
to represent the special interests of developers, their paid attorneys, the
real estate lobby, and property management companies or the rights of the
individual homeowner prior to and after his purchase of a home in this
state.
Subsequently it appears the current Legislature continues to fail to
recognize the current political winds in this country do not favor the
status quo on this issue (and many others in our state) of ignoring the
voices and concerns of the voters. Voters must hold legislators accountable
for the apathetic inaction on this issue. |