An electric fire likely caused by biked being charged set a garage ablaze in the Vista Ridge Estates 55-plus community at 1331 N. Dixie Downs Road on Thursday night. At least five fire trucks and over 20 firefighters responded to the scene to extinguish the blaze, which Vista Ridge Estates homeowners association manager Cheri Sanders […]
Woman dies in Centerville condominium fire (UT)
One woman died in a fire that burned through parts of a condominium complex in Centerville on Wednesday. Read the article………………………..
HOA Treasurer confesses to embezzling more than $150K thanks to persistent homeowner (UT)
After years of questioning and independent research from a persistent homeowner, the former treasurer of the Lava Bluff HOA in Hurricane confessed to embezzling more than $150,000. Read the article………………………
HOA fee shenanigans sour homebuying experience (UT)
There never seems to be a lack of material to discuss when it comes to HOAs (homeowner’s associations). Oh, how I wish we didn’t have to go there again, but alas, we do. Allow me to provide some context. This morning, I received a call from the buyer’s agent on a listing of mine that […]
Summit Park and Pinebrook wildfire prevention projects get top rating from state (UT)
After evacuations for the Parleys Canyon Fire, a wave of Summit Park homeowners signed up to have their property assessed for wildfire risk. Millions of dollars in grants are now funding work there and across Summit County. Read the entire article……………………………….
Lehi man ordered to rip out his new xeriscape landscaping by his HOA (UT)
It’s the sort of landscaping that has the hearty support of everyone from water scientists and Utah politicos. But you know who doesn’t like it? Hadley’s homeowner’s association. Read the entire article……………………………….
Fox Tail Trail development draws HOA condemnation (UT)
James Letchford, president of the Hidden Meadows Homeowners Association, which represents all of the homes in the nearby area, said that the applicant will ultimately be able to make their own rules by establishing their own HOA. Read the entire article……………………………….
Park City landowner accused of spending $3.7M of HOA funds on personal chef, nanny (UT)
A prominent Park City landowner and landlord renting out commercial and residential space on historic Main Street is facing criminal charges after prosecutors say he misappropriated millions of dollars on “significant commercial and personal expenses” including a personal chef and nanny. The charges stem from Abdalla’s business dealings and management of the Sky Lodge condominiums and […]
Tollgate City? Tollgate Canyon resident asks about incorporation amid North Summit Fire suspension (UT)
Could Tollgate Canyon become its own city? Residents say the North Summit fire suspension has left the remote neighborhood with unacceptable emergency coverage. Now, they’re looking for solutions. Read the entire article……………………………….
FOX 13 Investigates: They hear noises in their homes, and Utah law seems to be on the side of the builder
Both women live in a condominium complex in Herriman called Eagle View, built by Edge Homes. Residents here have complained about excess noises to Edge and their homeowners association, records show. A fix has not yet arrived. Read the entire article……………………………….
Water conservation bill targeting cities and HOAs stalls in House committee (UT)
A water conservation bill that received a shout-out from Gov. Spencer Cox did not advance out of a Utah House committee Wednesday afternoon. House Bill 95, sponsored by Rep. Ray Ward (R-Bountiful), would prohibit cities, counties, and HOAs from requiring property owners to plant or maintain only grass. They would have to provide other landscaping […]
Senate committee passes bill limiting HOAs in display, landscaping rules (UT)
A bill putting limits on homeowners’ associations when it comes to political signs, holiday displays, and landscaping on park strips has passed a Senate committee. Read the entire article……………………………….
‘No one else can force you to put it in’: Lawmaker proposes end to government, HOA rules requiring lawns (UT)
As a way to help promote water conservation statewide, a Utah legislator has put forth a bill that would ban government entities and homeowners associations from requiring residents to have and maintain lawns or turf. Read the entire article……………………………….
Utah bill would prevent cities, HOAs from enforcing grass rules
A Utah lawmaker is pushing a bill that would dramatically change the rules for cities, counties, and homeowners’ associations when it comes to grass. Read the entire article……………………………….
Predatory towing? Herriman residents share warning after being towed within minutes (UT)
A Herriman city councilmember and two of his constituents have a warning for the public tonight, after the residents fell victim to what they call “predatory towing.” It happened all within just a matter of two and a half minutes in front of their home. Although the couple admits they knew what they did was […]
Utah legislature considers incentives to ditch turf, ban cities and HOAs from requiring lawns
The Utah State Legislature is considering bills to encourage people get rid of “non-functional turf” and block cities and HOAs from requiring lawns. The bills, which will be introduced in the 2022 legislative session, come as the latest winter forecast shows a warm, dry one. Read the entire article……………………………….
Two South Ogden condos heavily damaged in overnight fire (UT)
Two families have been displaced after a fire tore through two condos in South Ogden late Saturday night, injuring two firefighters. The condos in the neighborhood near 800 East and 5500 South are close together, which put pressure on firefighters to keep the flames from spreading to more homes. Read the entire article……………………………….
Utah lawmaker pushes HOA in Cottonwood Heights to cut back on watering
A state legislator said she’s tried everything to get the HOA in her area of Cottonwood Heights to cut back on watering, but every attempt has been ignored. Gay Lynn Bennion walks Hollow Mill Road every morning with her husband. She likes the exercise, but in early June she noticed something that really bothered her […]
Murray condo complex cleans up after flooding (UT)
Residents of the Willowbrook Condominium complex are cleaning up after a heavy storm that brought flooding to several units and the clubhouse Wednesday. Read the entire article……………………………….
Five-alarm condo fire in SLC draws heavy response (UT)
An early morning condominiuim fire in Salt Lake City drew a heavy response from emergency crews Monday. Officials say they were called around 2 a.m. to the building at 425 South 1000 East due to smoke and flames coming from the fourth and fifth floors of the six-story Incline Terrace building. Nearly 100 emergency personnel […]
Why aren’t we seeing more new condos being built in Salt Lake City? It’s complicated (UT)
When CW Urban announced it would build a new residential building across from Pioneer Park, one thing in particular stood out. It wasn’t necessarily its design, its unit count, its height or anything about the appearance that made it particularly noteworthy in a sea of similar competing buildings nearby. Read the entire article……………………………….
Developer, HOA apologize over Ramadan decoration fine (UT)
A day after KSL TV first reported a Muslim family received a fine from its homeowners association over their Ramadan decorations, the HOA and the neighborhood developer have apologized. Read the entire article……………………………….
Neighbors Claim Religious Discrimination After HOA Fines Lehi Family (UT)
A group of neighbors in Lehi sided against their homeowners association after a family was fined for their decorations celebrating Ramadan. Ahsan Ali Khan lives in an Ivory Homes community near 900 West 2800 North. The Khans are Muslim and recently celebrated Ramadan. Read the entire article……………………………….
Hideout’s first master developer sues the town and its planner for $100M (UT)
The original master developer of Hideout is suing the town and its planner over development rights, accusing them of causing the developer economic damages of at least $100 million by reducing the value of its holdings and acting to prevent it from developing hundreds of homes. Read the entire article……………………………….
Hideout Homeowners to Decide on Purchase of Outlaw Golf Club (UT)
Hideout homeowners have to decide whether to purchase a golf course in their community. If they don’t, the current owner says he will sell to someone else. Read the entire article……………………………….
White property owners only? Racist covenants remain on books in Utah, but now there’s a path to fix them
Before building a new home in Holladay, Steve Tachiki glanced over his property records to make sure the changes wouldn’t get him into trouble. On the second page of a housing covenant, he found a different sort of requirement, barring anyone “other than the caucasian race” from owning a home on the property. It was […]
Governor signs SB31 re: Community Associations (UT)
SB31 prevents a condominium or homeowners association from prohibiting a condominium unit or lot owner from installing a personal security camera on the owner’s dwelling unit; and makes some technical changes to other sections. Read the bill………………………….
FOX 13 Investigates: Newly-constructed home buyers find Utah gives them few options to fix defects (UT)
Utah has been one of the fastest-growing states for years. In 2019, municipalities approved permits for 18,000 new single-family homes. Buyers like David who find problems with the new construction learn “the cards are stacked against the homeowner,” says John Morris, an attorney who has represented Utah homeowners. Read the article………………………………..
BYU professor wants to change racist wording in neighborhood housing documents (UT)
As a professor of family history at BYU, Amy Harris studies a lot of old documents. But when she bought her Midvale house in 2010, her title company dug up an old document she wasn’t expecting: a neighborhood covenant excluding any residents who weren’t “Caucasian.” Read the article………………………………..
Sky Lodge Majority Owner Ordered to Pay $2.3M in Dispute With Fellow Condo Owners (UT)
A Third District Court judge has ruled against Ken Abdalla, the majority owner of the Sky Lodge, ordering him to pay a judgment of over $2.3 million and calling for a foreclosure sale of 30 fractional-share units owned by Abdalla and his affiliates. Abdalla has been embroiled in legal conflicts with his fellow condo owners […]
Court Filing Claims Kenneth Abdalla Owes $4.2 Million To Sky Lodge Homeowners (UT)
The majority owner of Sky Lodge – who has been embroiled in a lawsuit with his fellow condominium owners for years – will be before a judge next month to explain where more than $4-million in fees and assessments have gone. Court documents show that Kenneth Abdalla, Malibu Companies and other Abdalla related entities owe […]
Millcreek killing leads lawmakers to debate a homeowners association’s ban on security cameras (UT)
Linda Nemelka, 57, was shot and killed while sitting in the driveway of a Millcreek home in March. Police are still looking for the person responsible for her death, a task that has been made more difficult as the homeowners association in that neighborhood bans outdoor security cameras, even those on homes. Read the article…………………………………..
Neighbors rally for couple sued by the Dixie Springs Architectural Control Committee over wall height (UT)
In November 2019, the Dixie Springs Architectural Control Committee filed a lawsuit against retired police officer Andrea Kaz and retired firefighter Steve Kaz for the height of a wall they built around their home. The lawsuit was launched after Chris Howell, former president of the Dixie Springs Architectural Committee (ACC), approached the Kazes and told […]
Homeowner asked by HOA to take down pro-police flag in Draper neighborhood (UT)
A Utah woman is expressing her frustration after she was asked by a local homeowner’s association to take down her family’s “Thin Blue Line” flag. “It’s awfully convenient that in years past they never have requested this, but this year it’s a big deal,” Aimee Peterson told 2News. Read the article………………………………..
HOA asks woman to remove flag supporting police (UT)
Last weekend, Aimee Peterson received a letter from her homeowner’s association with a “kind request” — that she remove her Thin Blue Line flag supporting police from her front porch. “It’s convenient that they chose now to enforce it, when we’ve flown this for years and years,” said Peterson. Read the article……………………………..
HOA apologizes after Utah resident was asked to take down ‘Black Lives Matter’ sign (UT)
A Utah homeowners association is apologizing after a resident was asked to take down his Black Lives Matter sign. Dan Carlson, a sociology and family and consumer studies professor at the University of Utah, posted on Twitter Tuesday that the HOA that oversees the Daybreak community in South Jordan left him a notice about his […]
Layton HOA Mix-Up Leaves Homeowners With The Bill (UT)
Dozens of Layton homeowners are being welcomed into an HOA that they never agreed to join, and for some, it’s happening several years after they moved in. It appears to be a big mistake on the part of the developer and the homeowners will have to pay for maintenance that was never disclosed to them […]
Neighborhood fights over blue Christmas lights to honor medical workers (UT)
It’s four months past Christmas, but one Saratoga Springs neighborhood has been fighting over Christmas lights that a homeowner said he put up to to honor medical workers. Jeff Noorda is a homeowner in the Legacy Farms neighborhood. He still has Christmas lights strung up around his house, even though it’s almost May. But the […]
Cedar Highlands residents to vote on whether to stay an incorporated town or go back to HOA (UT)
Cedar Highlands residents will soon vote on whether their town should remain a municipality or be formally disincorporated……If a majority of voters opt for disincorporation, the mountain community of Cedar Highlands would revert to its former status as an unincorporated portion of Iron County, operating under its own homeowners association (HOA). The mayor and Town […]
Daybreak HOA raises monthly payment 100% to cover building defects (UT)
Some residents in Daybreak have been given notice of a 100 percent increase in HOA fees, starting in February. The Eastlake Village Condominium Owners’ Association mailed out notices to residents about the increase and held a meeting Wednesday night. The increase stems from a lawsuit the HOA filed against the homes’ builders in 2015. The […]
Surprise surveyor sparks property lines dispute (UT)
What would you do if you built a new home and found out you have hidden property? That’s what Mallory Rogers and Steven Carter say happened to them on their dream home. Read the article…………………..
Summit Park homeowners take lead in fire mitigation (UT)
It may seem unusual to be talking about the threat of wildland fires when there is still several feet of snow on the ground. But, Summit Park homeowner Mike Quinones said now is the perfect time to begin preparing for the upcoming fire season. Read the article…………………….
Millcreek condo owners forced to pay $40,000 fee (UT)
Nearly 100 homeowners at Millcreek Hollow are being forced to pay for roughly $4 million in repairs, due to alleged builder negligence. According to residents, the builders cut corners when they built the 96-unit property about 15 years ago, and now, the owners are paying the cost. The management company, FCS, said they tried to […]
Homeowners upset over HOA park, handed over to Kaysville City (UT)
When Tim Hodges, originally from Texas, moved into his neighborhood back in April, he says the land supported by the local Homeowners Association was a major factor, because it included a park and an equestrian area. “It was perfect. It was everything we dream of,” Hodges said. “I mean, that’s a competition-size arena right there, […]
Get Gephardt: Clogged shared sewer pipe leaves lowest owner stuck with mess, bill (UT)
If somebody else was responsible for damage to you home, who should have to pay for it? A Roy woman was stuck with the bill after she says her condo complex left her home flooded with raw sewage. When the sewer line at the Rosewood Manor became clogged, it became a disgusting problem for Lorie […]
Commentary: Some homeowners are at the mercy of unmonitored and predatory management companies (UT)
Utah’s booming population growth is demanding more and more residential housing, and according to recent reports, our builders are building more than any state in the nation. However, with this success come unintended consequences: predatory Home Owner Associations (HOA). Read the article………….
Lawmakers pass bill limiting HOA control on solar (UT)
A bill that limits the ability of homeowners associations to regulate rooftop solar installations made it through the Utah Legislature late Thursday. Senate Bill 154, sponsored by South Jordan Republican Lincoln Fillmore, would prohibit rules against solar in most cases, potentially adding a new roll of homeowners to the list of potential buyers in one […]
Utah Op-ed: Let HOA residents join fully in the solar revolution
As the manager of a Utah business, it’s very important to me that we do our part to help protect the health of our community. That’s one of the big reasons we at Mark Miller Subaru chose to invest in rooftop solar. As our Legislature discusses legislative solutions to our state’s most pressing problems, I […]
Hyrum (UT) condominium complex to limit amount of rentals
The Hyrum City Council approved a preliminary plat agreement for 44-lot condominium complex, Green Meadow Villas, which included an agreement that would limit the amount of renters for the complex to encourage a full-time community. Read the article…………..
Six homeowner association bills signed (UT)
This legislative session Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed six laws changing the way homeowner associations operate, including how they deal with rental units, conduct board meetings and make disclosures. The six bills are multi-faceted pieces of legislation and impact the associations in varying degrees. Some address procedural matters, while others will directly affect how association […]