Section 8 landlords to be fined $300 weekly until tenants ousted, HOA says

[ripcord]

Landlords in the town of Providence Village can expect to start receiving weekly fines of $300 for housing Section 8 tenants following a vote last week to implement new rental rules made by the Providence Homeowners Association.

Voted in by the association’s board June 6, the regulations ban any tenants who participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program — also known as Section 8 — from living in homes that are part of the HOA. The rules also forbid owners from having more than one rental property and effectively prohibit short-term rentals made popular by sites such as Airbnb and Vrbo. About 2,200 homes are part of the association.

Tenant Revisha Threats, who participates in the voucher program, emailed the association’s manager following the vote. She asked if she could finish her lease, which is scheduled to expire in May 2023, before moving. That’s when she was told the fines imposed on her landlord will start as soon as the regulations are filed with the Denton County Clerk’s Office and become enforceable, which is expected to happen this week.

Homeowner Judy Rooker, who oversees about 23 properties in the town east of Denton through her property management company, said HOA manager Cody Watson also told her the fines would begin right away unless Section 8 tenants move out or landlords withdraw from the housing program and begin charging tenants full rent. But she and other landlords say it isn’t what they were told before the changes were approved.

https://dentonrc.com/news/providence_village/section-8-landlords-to-be-fined-300-weekly-until-tenants-ousted-hoa-says/article_c936cf99-87d2-59ca-8ca8-26f55f68d209.html

It seems the HOA blames everything that goes wrong on the Section 8 tenants, it isn't like they are real people after all.

[wryter2000]

1. Exactly why

I never joined a homeowner's association.

On edit: Is it legal for them to get rid of tenants? They can't increase the rent if the tenants have a lease.

[mopinko]

3. i would think they'll lose this in court.

i dont think they can just cancel leases.
and i dont know about there, but an eviction case takes mmmmmmonths here.

[brush]

8. I suspect there will be some consequences as there are leases.

Many times HOA heads are self-important, mini dictators who over step their bounds.

This seems like an example of that.

[Marthe48]

2. The new rules order breaking leases limiting ownership of property

and evictions laws. I think the HOA is going to be sorry they passed these new rules.

[Journeyman]

4. Some renters just moved from my neighborhood. Completely trashed the home . . .

Their three dogs destroyed the carpets and ate through two bedroom doors. The children killed two trees and tore down rain gutters and window screens. None of the window blinds were salvageable. There were gaping holes in the walls, the appliances were trashed, and the garage door had to be replaced. And that's just the beginning of the troubles . . .

There were twice as many people living there as originally on the lease, so parking was at a premium on the street. The dogs barked and howled all hours of the day and night and viciously attacked the chain link fence whenever another dog or any children walked by on the sidewalk. The children in the home delighted in smashing bricks and large rocks on the sidewalk, peppering the cars around with shards of masonry and concrete.

And this family paid full boat on the place. No Section 8. So whether someone is a good tenant or not is entirely dependent on what type of people they are. Everyone should be treated accordingly.

I suspect someone had issues with a particular household, discovered they were there on Section 8 vouchers, and blanketly judged them all. 'T'would be nice if they could appeal but I suspect neither the tenants nor the landlords have the cash to retain lawyers.

[VMA131Marine]

5. Note there are federal laws regarding when it's legal

to evict Section 8 tenants. Landlords who try to do so without just cause, and this situation is not one of them, are going to find themselves in hot water with the Feds.

[Eugene]

6. Lawful or not, the HOA's methods are questionable.

https://dentonrc.com/news/providence_village/section-8-landlords-to-be-fined-300-weekly-until-tenants-ousted-hoa-says/article_c936cf99-87d2-59ca-8ca8-26f55f68d209.html

The rulemaking process was deceptive, and federal regulations give 90 days for terminations, which the HOA is apparent flouting.

[brush]

7. Somebody is going to get sued.

The HOA most likely, and/or the landlords as there are signed leases involved.

[momta]

9. This sounds a lot like Texas' abortion "solution"

They're not going after the renters themselves, they're going after the property owners because they don't like the people who are renting the properties. And they're not calling it illegal, they're just saying if you do this thing--which is perfectly legal--we're going to fine you $300 per week.

I think every state in this country needs to implement this kind of law for anyone purchasing a gun. It's not illegal, but if you do it we're gonna make you pay.

[struggle4progress]

10. Who can say "tortious interference with a contact"?

[localroger]

11. Bingo. It will quickly end up in court and it won't go well for the HOA. /nt