Is your home a part of a housing association (HOA)? Do you need residential roofing repairs or a full roofing replacement? The terms home renovation project and HOA don’t have to instill fear or cause headaches. If you find the right roofing contractor, and follow these tips, you will be well on your way to getting the roofing services you need, regardless of your home’s location or the housing association that oversees it.
Here’s what you need to know about getting a new roof while working with an HOA.
Know the Rules
Living under an HOA means you have two sets of rules to follow: municipal building codes and HOA regulations. Keep in mind that just because the repairs or new roofing project you are seeking to complete are allowed by your city doesn’t mean they will be allowed under the HOA’s rules. Start by having a roofing contractor provide you with a detailed plan of what works needs to be done, then provide this plan to your HOA to see if it meets their guidelines. If they deny the plan, ask for specific changes that need to be made in order for the project to move forward.
Do not worry about municipal housing codes, your roofing contractor should pull a permit and deal with all the applications required, just keep in mind that you may have to pay the application fee for the permit.
Maintain Open Communication
Communication is most important part, so keep an open line between you, your roofing contractor and your HOA throughout every step of the project. You don’t want to have your contractor move forward with the work only to find out that your HOA doesn’t approve of it. That is a quick way to prolong a project and make it far more expensive. If your project will be completed in phases (teardown, reroofing, new soffit and fascia, etc.), make sure to get sign off from your HOA before each phase begins.
Communicate often and you will have little to no headaches throughout the process.
Seek Out Legal Counsel
Your HOA may have a say over repairs and modifications you can make on your home, but keep in mind that you have rights as a homeowner too! Just because a HOA says something is not allowed, doesn’t mean they have the right to ban it. If you are struggling with the jargon and legal wording within an HOA document or believe you are being wronged in any way, ask an attorney to review your HOA contract and your roofing project to see if legal action can be taken.
Work with the Right Contractor
When choosing a roofing contractor, make sure they are open and honest in terms of the project scope and the work that needs to be done. Do not let them push you into making repairs or going forward with a project that could put you in violation of your HOA’s rules. Choose a company who has experience with this type of work and will place your best interests ahead of getting paid.
