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Article and Video Courtesy of
FOX 35 NEWS -- ORLANDO
By
Elizabeth Alvarez
Published November 21, 2008
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 Watch
VIDEO
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ORANGE
COUNTY, Fla. -- The Board of Directors for the Woodland Lakes
Preserve, a subdivision in East Orange County is implementing an emergency
assessment and it’s upsetting quite a few homeowners.
In a letter sent to homeowners, the Board of Directors stated payments
received after the due date will be subject to penalties and lien
foreclosure action as determined b the governing documents and Florida
law.
According to the Board there were several factors leading to the extra
fee:
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Approximately
20 percent of homeowners are not paying their regular hoa fees mostly
due to foreclosure
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The
landscaping vendor changed
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The
association hired a landscaping consultant
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Security
and legal costs are over budget
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Insurance
costs are double the anticipated amount
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Homeowners
got a letter this week notifying them that members are being
charged $662 for an emergency assessment that the Board of
Directors passed on November 10th at a budget meeting.
The
emergency assessment is due December 1st and homeowners are
just finding out.
“We’re already strapped anyway with everything that’s
going on,” said homeowner Michelle Smith. “And we have
four kids.” |
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In
a letter sent to homeowners, the Board of Directors stated payments
received after the due date will be subject to penalties and lien
foreclosure action as determined b the governing documents and Florida
law.
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“It was just
shocking,” said Smith. “Because frankly we don’t get
enough done around here to pay that amount of money.” But
what was most appalling to homeowners like Smith?
“I feel bad for the people that have foreclosed homes and
it’s not their fault,” she said “But its not our fault
either. I feel the subdivision should take care of
that - the builder -- why do we have to get their costs?
The answer to that is - state law and
the contract homeowners sign with their HOA. |
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Homeowners are meeting Friday evening to discuss seeking legal advice.
Many say they were never notified of the budget meeting last week which is
a public meeting.
The HOAs attorney did not return calls Thursday.
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