Editorial: Bill strikes balance for homeowners
Thursday, June 26, 1997 | 11:48 a.m.
IN response to an uproar between homeowners and their associations, the state Senate Commerce and Labor Committee has sent a package of much-needed reforms to a full Senate vote.
The committee this week unanimously passed a measure which will provide essential safeguards to homeowners, including a provision to prevent loss of their homes.
This is one of the hottest issues of this legislative session. Homeowners testified they have been intimidated by associations and fined for minor violations. Others said they were too terrified to testify in public against their associations.
The reform package, drafted by Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, would establish an ombudsman's office in the state's Real Estate Division to arbitrate disputes between homeowners and their associations.
Association boards would no longer be able to foreclose on properties to collect fines and penalties for minor offenses could be no more than $50. Association managers also would have to receive training which would be certified by the state.
Another important feature of this bill is that prospective home buyers would be given extensive information on what rights they will lose when they buy a residence in an association. The information should prevent home buyers from claiming later that they were misinformed at the time of the sale.
Schneider's bill will restore some sanity to the ongoing war between homeowners and associations. What was envisioned as an effective way to maintain property values by establishing reasonable rules for maintenance of property in some cases has become a nightmare. Some homeowners have felt harassed by nitpicking association boards and at times disagreements have exploded into full-fledged feuds.
Homeowners have the right to reasonable use of their property. They also need protection from eyesores or junkyards next door that endanger their property values. This bill strikes a proper balance and deserves endorsement from the Legislature.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Wonder drug for men no success story
- CityCenter: One man’s concept of a real city
- Man, 18, arrested for DUI in crash that kills woman, 24
- Notebook: UNLV prospect Polee likes what he sees, and hears, at the Mack
- Bellfield tolls again for UNLV in 76-71 win over Louisville
- Man fatally shot during robbery attempt of woman
- Pitino doesn’t consider loss to UNLV a total loss
- The ball’s in Reid’s court: Passing the public option
- Palin has a way of bringing out the anger in people
- Del Sol rallies without top rusher to win Sunrise title
Blogs
Elsewhere
LV woman robs Kentucky strip club, police say (1 Comment)
Las Vegas Sands' Hong Kong IPO flops
The Kats Report
Monday List: Top 13 Moments and Observations From Thanksgiving Weekend (1 Comment)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Tarkanian: Reid is liberal, out of touch, rude, poisonously partisan and a know-it-all (1 Comment)
The Kats Report
Barry Manilow off to Paris: Two-year deal starts March 5 at Le Theatre des Arts (2 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Ensign survives radio interview with no follow-ups; partial transcript below (2 Comments)
Now and Then
Battle of I-74 settled 1,700 miles from home
Calendar »
- 30 Mon
- 1 Tue
- 2 Wed
- 3 Thu
- 4 Fri
-
DJ showdown at Prive
Prive | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Rok Box with Mike Carbonell at Tabu
Tabú Ultralounge | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
DJ Riz at Jet
Jet | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Football specials at Diablo's
Diablos Cantina
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati









