Posted by Benjamin in Rouse / Chamberlin, the company that took over DeLuca’s assets has deleted the part of the Toscana covenants that states that owners get control of the Toscana HOA on December 1st, 2010.
I contacted Rouse / Chamberlin for a comment about these changes, but they have not returned my requests for an interview.
If I do get an interview, what would you like me to ask? Put your questions in the comments below.
Ben,
thanks for the follow up on Toscana.
Questions to ask:
1. Status of back dues being collected from delinquent homeowners.
2. Status of bad debt write offs on units that were foreclosed on and the related dues tied to those units.
3. How come the HOA is not being paid for the 96 unbuilt units that the old Deluca board decided to cancel in 2008 and strap the homeowners with that burden and a special assessment of $1500 along with a 37.5% increase in dues. The community was sold with those units to be part of the mix and participate in the monthly assessments. We were lied to by the board and Bob Rosen in November 2008. It was stated that the deficit was being totally caused by the delinquent homeowners and foreclosures. In fact, half of the deficit was caused by the non-payment by Deluca for the 96 condo units that they put on hold. Not fair to the homeowners to have to pick that up.
4. Drainage problems during hard rains behind 6861 and 6849 Sorrento St. The drain is below surface level and fills up with debris and causes flooding. This was reported several times.
5. Block/Stucco fence around perimeter is in bad need of repair.
6. The driveways of many units were damaged by the vendor who installed the sprinkler heads between driveways. Several driveways througout the community have a dip in them because of the way the vendor drilled under the driveways to install the sprinkler pipes when the units were built. Many of us had our sewer pipes destroyed as a result and caused numerous sewer backups in the house. Deluca put their head in the sand on this and all one has to do is drive the town home community to see what i am referring to.
7. Irrigation system was installed improperly by original contractor with inferior materials and workmanship. The HOA has had to pay over the years to basically retrofit the system to make it work properly.
8. Black mold on roofs of town homes needs to be addressed.
9. Gate repair has been an issue from day one. It appears that someone is being proactive now to repair the old motors and drives which is just throwing good money after bad. They should all be replaced with the new style that has been installed at the front gate on Turkey Lake. We have spent way too much money with inferior companies and could have more than paid for new motors by now and driven down repairs.
10. Brighthouse cable issue. We need to get rid of the “supposed 10 year contract” with them. I have been given all sorts of stories over the past 5 years. Recently being told that there is no contract. I have asked numerous times to be provided with the monthly amount that is in my HOA dues for the cable. I have been told that we get basic cable for around $24 to $28 in our dues and we would have to pay Brighthouse about $45 for it. Hence, they say, we are buying in bulk. It took me 2 years to know that such was being provided in our HOA dues and then it took me 6 months to get Brighthouse to agree to reimburse me for some of the overcharge on my bill as they would not go back to the beginning of service date for refund. I am still furious about this arrangement and it needs to brought to a head.
11. We need a porter service to drive the community on garbage day (Tuesday & Friday) to pick up the debris that has fallen out of the recycle bins/trash piles and has blown around the community. It is an awful looking mess on those 2 days and needs to be addressed.
12. We need to determine if the reserve funds are adequately funded based on actuarial tables for age of the community. We do not know if said funds have been robbed again as they were with Deluca in 2008. If we are not adequately funded, they need to fund it based on the tables.
13. We need to have the books and records audited to determine if the past boards have committed fraud or embezzled our funds. We have auditors in our community who would be willing to do this at no or little cost to the board.
Benjamin, thanks for all this follow up.
I think Luis has covered just about everything, except perhaps what is the date the residents will have control of the HOA and it’s funds, or in all those legal documents does it say somewhere that we will never be taking over?
Let me know if I can help in any way.
June