To the editor:
For many months, homeowners from across our community and state have been reaching out to me sharing stories of exploitation and power-imbalance they’ve experienced with their homeowners associations (HOAs) and property management companies. Feedback I’ve received includes outrageous fines for minor infractions; surprise fees with no explanation; management companies operating with little transparency; and, worst of all, people facing foreclosure and losing their homes over disputes that never should have escalated to the point they did.
The system is broken. It is time for HOA reform.
On February 26, I led a press conference with colleagues from both parties and both the House and Senate to introduce a bipartisan HOA reform bill I’m chief authoring (Senate File 1750). Our reform bill is based on recommendations resulting from months of testimony, debate, and real-life experiences from homeowners who have been ignored for too long. The more than 40 recommendations from the HOA/CIC working group share a common theme: HOAs must be accountable to the people they serve. No more backroom decisions. No more financial secrecy. No more abusive fines and fees.
SF 1750 will require financial transparency so homeowners can see exactly where their money is going. Provisions in the bill include a framework for setting fair limits on fines and fees ensuring no one loses their home over a minor dispute; requiring disclosures and competitive bids for HOA contracts to prevent conflicts of interest; creating a dispute resolution process so homeowners don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to fight unfair treatment.
HOAs exist to serve homeowners, not control them. Too many Minnesotans have suffered under the heavy hand of unaccountable HOAs. SF 1750 is a step toward fairness, transparency, and common sense.
Sincerely,
State Senator, District 30
Rockford Township | Hanover | Saint Michael | Albertville | Otsego | Elk River | Nowthen | Western Oak Grove