[monster]

There is no UK equiv of a home Owners Association. There really aren't "neighborhoods" like there are here. Brits, think of the "housing estates" built in the 70s/80s. And then add regulations, and only one way in or out.

So now, here's our tale......

We were horrified by HOAs, but we needed to live in this area and anything old enough not to be covered by an HOA was historic, small and way too expensive.

Then we found this neighborhood built by cowboys (Brit not Texan sense of the word.....) where the HOA had lapsed. Our Realtor assured us that a lapsed HOA has never been reinstated.

HA

A few years ago a couple of bimbos decided they wanted a few people to clean up their front yards. So they asked the agents who oversee the condos in the 'hood if they would be interested in managing our 'hood if the HOA was reinstated. Guess what? They said yes. And they provided a legal firm free of charge to help the re-instatement. They sent out mailings that looked like junk to invite people to vote (so no-one read it), they only needed 10% in favor to go ahead -the bimbos and their neighbors turned up and Bingo, everyone was slapped with a $300 bill with the threat of Liens. I was at the meeting because My kids caught the school bus with the bimbos' kids' and they told me (with pride) about their scheme to sort out the neighborhood, but I was the only dissenting voice.

The Management Agency took the money from those who paid and did nothing. Residents finally wised up, emergency meeting called, board replaced with a board who promised to do nothing except sack management company, when management company asked about return of fees/services, they said all bills paid so far didn't even cover their admin costs and they were planning to sue......