H.O.A. Overview
WHAT IS AN HOA?
HOA stands for Homeowners’ Association. HOAs are formal legal entities created to maintain common areas and enforce private deed restrictions. Most condominium and town house developments and single-family subdivisions have Homeowners’ Association, usually created when the development is built. Living in a HOA carries with it certain rights, responsibilities and benefits. Benefits include the right to use common areas, which may include swimming pools, parks, playgrounds and other recreational facilities.
In order to finance the operation of the common interested association, each owner is responsible for and obligated to pay periodic assessments, and if necessary, special assessments to ensure that the financial requirements are met.
In Virginia, any development that has common area must have a Homeowners’ Association and be registered with Virginia’s Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). Wexford has a good deal of common area and therefore is required to have a HOA.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO LIVING IN AN H.O.A.?
H.O.A.s have the ability to impose standards of property maintenance higher than the county is able to do, given state law. They also have means of enforcement provided in their covenants, bylaws and rules. Developments run by Homeowners’ Associations are usually more successful in preventing neighborhood deterioration and most owners like the quality of life in a Homeowners’ Association.
The board of directors that run H.O.A.s are made up of owners who have volunteered to take on considerable responsibility for the benefit of the community. The effectiveness of H.O.A.s depends on these volunteers. Should the Homeowners’ Association become ineffective, the neighborhood may lose its ability to adhere to the higher standard of the H.O.A. Property values may decrease, and owners will have to depend on the county for enforcement of minimal property maintenance codes. This results in frustration on the part of the owners and requires additional resources from the county.
WEXFORD CONSERVANCY & H.O.A. GOVERNANCE
Aside from having to abide by and follow what is written in Wexford’s Governing Documents, the Wexford Conservancy must follow both Virginia Code and Prince William County Code. The Wexford Board of Trustees is very careful to operate inside of our Governing Documents, the law, and these codes. We encourage our property owners to educate themselves on what is contained in our Governing Documents, along with state and county laws and codes. Home owners who take some time to educate themselves quite often learn a lot and better understand their roles and responsibilities as members of the H.O.A.
IMPORTANT LINKS
> Prince William County Information on HOAs
> Code of Virginia – Title 55 – Chapter 18 Property Owner’s Act
> Code of Virginia – Title 54.1-2354.2 Common Interest Community Management Information Fund
> Follow this link to review Wexford Resolution 2012-04 Adoption of Complaint Procedure
> The Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman