Homeowners do not have HOA ‘eminent domain’ protection

You all know about public domain eminent domain protection: the government cannot take your property for public use – public benefit — without fair market compensation, which you can negotiate and take to court if necessary. Acquiring your property is a “taking.” 

According to the courts,  it is not well known that the government’s denial of a natural use of your property is considered an informal taking, and compensation must be paid. I am surprised to learn that almost any personal property owned by the homeowner can be subject to a taking by the government. (Investopedia).

As an HOA member you do not have an equivalent HOA government taking protection whereby you are compensated for any takings or modifications demanded by the HOA. While HOA government takings per se are rare except for foreclosure rights, the HOA does demand that the homeowner replace or remove approved  landscaping trees or shrubbery, additions like sheds, playsets,  repaint the exterior, etc. At the homeowner’s expense!

I’ve found many times that corrective action is delayed until after completion of the approved homeowner improvements, and the HOA demands that it be torn down by the homeowner. Grossly unjust and unfair: it’s the incompetence of the HOA failing to act within a reasonable time while construction begins.

However, it’s understandable and acceptable if the governing documents specify, for example, that exteriors just be repainted every 15 years, or roofs inspected for necessary repairs every 20 years or so, etc.

The argument used by the HOA generally falls into keeping with the image  of the properties and maintain property values, for the benefit of the members, the HOA ‘public.’  As it stands, the owner/ member has no right to demand compensation and is another instance of constitutional protections lost in HOA-Land.