Recommendations for MD HOA attorney….

[Daria B.]

to deal with HOA sending false violations regarding my rental unit in addition to a nosy neighbor who complains about everything under the sun and moon. I know the neighbor is making a lot of complaints to HOA which prompt them to issue violations that I continually dispute. I am exhausted over this pettiness. My PM has stepped in from the beginning but as the owner it ultimately falls in me albeit both of us have disputed these claims.

In the beginning, my response was just OK. I will let the PM know and this will get handled because it was one legitimate issue regarding parking. This is now escalated into multiple violations over time issued for the same or other false violations and every time we look into it we don't find anything, and this is told to the HOA.

One being a dog on the premises whose unleashed or has elimated outside in proximity to my unit. First of all, I don't allow any pets in my unit and I know for a fact that the tenant doesn't have any, nor does anyone come to the unit with a dog. It's ludacris to think that just because they find elimination somewhere near the property that it has anything to do with my unit. And I said as much to the HOA without any proof, especially this unleashed dog. I believe they are now targeting me and my property and I need this to stop.

My last email response to them (HOA) was that I know that they are targeting me in my property and that all of this was coming from the neighbor next-door who clearly doesn't want any tenants living next to them.

Unfortunately, there are also other things going on and I’m looking into just selling and getting out of this community but that’s not going to happen overnight.

It was mentioned to me about a cease and desist, but I have no experience in this, and I'm looking for an attorneys advice that has dealt with HOA's, and neighbors, who make it there life's work to be an annoyance.

cheers!

[Colleen F.]

@Daria B. Very similar situation, once you have an arrest on the property (I did too) whether or not the property is occupied by the arrestee or the arrestee was convicted again it is all over. It goes up in the local news and you are done for because in the eyes of the neighbors they are guilty. Have you requested the police report and is the son a resident at the property? If the son is a resident at the property and had drugs you probably need to get him out as part of the solution. If they found drugs that can probably do it. You can terminate the lease or restrict the party in question. If they didn't find drugs you have a police report to show it and you confront the HOA with that but might not help. You can have a camera installed outside or just have one inside that points out the window that will record dogs and comings and goings nest or ring will do. I have been down this road. You may win the dog claim but they won't stop. If it started with these tenants and you address the occupancy they object to (son), you may still get some petty complaints down the road but the HOA may discount them given your willingness to address what they may see as the big problem (the police call tenant). And the neighbor won't talk to your tenant because they are "afraid" of them. If you aren't moving on the tenant (I did not) then be prepared for a long run of complaints. It is 3 years since the original arrest at my place and they made the complaint on the burned dinner being meth. (also know that the bad neighbor will recruit other neighbors by reminding everyone of the arrest and swat call). If there is a PM on the property call them when you get a complaint. That way your emotion gets dissipated a little verbally before you put it in writing. Best of luck.