Oakbrook Townhouses, Inc., House Rules
Adopted by the Board on December 6, 2010
Adopted by the Membership January 18, 2011
INTRODUCTION
These House Rules have been established to provide
guidelines which will contribute to the enjoyment of townhouse living and the
cooperative management and operation of our homeowners association.
The basic rules and regulations governing this Association
are set down in the Declarations and Bylaws of Oakbrook Townhouses, Inc.
Fundamental house rules are outlined in Article XI of the Declarations.
Subsequent policies established by the Board of Directors are also binding. All
individuals are responsible for knowledge of and compliance with these
governing rules and policies.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR COVENANTS AND BY-LAWS WHERE YOU CAN LOOK UP
ANY OF YOUR MAINTENANCE QUESTIONS. LET YOUR RENTERS KNOW OF ALL THESE
RULES SO THEY TOO CAN TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROPERTY.
We reference the following items to the Articles X and XI of
the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions plus Article IV, Section III of
the By-Laws of Oakbrook Townhouse, Inc.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
1.
Maintaining
the exterior of the units requires the cooperation of all the owners and
renters to take reasonable care of their own unit so that costly repairs
will be avoided.
2.
The
decks, front and back, need to be cleaned of debris and articles
which promote rotting of the wood. Carpeting traps moisture and promotes
rotting. It should be removed periodically to let the wood dry out.
3.
The
care and replacement of the wood decking boards on the front decks are the
responsibility of the owners. If repairs to roofing of the front or
back decks is caused by the decking boards, carpeting, planters, or any
other deterioration not related to normal weathering conditions, the cost
of such repairs will be the owners responsibility.
4.
Planters
and other heavy objects must be movable and weigh less than 40 pounds per
square foot. Removal of containers or furniture from the front or back
decks for scheduled repairs are the owner's responsibility after notification
of the scheduled repairs.
5.
Ivy
destroys. Keep it off walls, foundations, mail box posts, and trees. It
will kill trees and plants if not controlled.
6.
A
2-foot right of way needs to be maintained for fire fighters. All
plantings in the path of the right of way will need to be removed by the
owners or, if not, will be removed by the landscaper and his invoice will
be sent to the owners. Any fence owners must put in gates at both ends of
the fence so fire fighters and maintenance people can traverse the back in
the process of their duties.
PETS, LIVESTOCK, AND
POULTRY
1.
No animals (including exotic birds,
livestock, or poultry of any kind) other than household pets, shall be kept or
maintained on any part of said property. Dogs and cats, not to exceed a total
of two, may be kept in any unit, provided that they are not kept, bred or
maintained for any commercial use or purpose. No reptiles shall be kept upon
the premises. All dogs must be kept so as to minimize excessive noise from
barking or otherwise shall be considered a nuisance according to the terms of
the Declaration. Owners are required to immediately clean up all pet waste from
the property. No animal may be tied to or housed upon the common elements
except on decks or within fenced yards. Dogs and cats shall be in compliance
with all applicable laws and regulations.
CONFORMITY OF
APPEARANCE
In
order to preserve a pleasant and reasonable exterior appearance to the
building, the Board may prohibit, require or regulate any modification or decoration
of the building and decks, patios or balconies undertaken or proposed by an
owner.
- Any alteration of the common
areas must be approved by the Board.
Such approval carries with it a responsibility of the owner to
maintain the appearance.
- Items on the decks shall be in
keeping with preserving a pleasant and reasonable external appearance.
- All
screens, windows, and doors (including garage doors) must have board
approval.
- All
painting of external surfaces requires prior Board approval (i.e., color,
texture, composition)
- No
satellite dishes shall be installed by an owner without prior written
consent of the Board
- Owners/tenants
who are considered by the Board to be in violation of these policies will
receive a letter from the Board requesting compliance. In the event of non-compliance, the
Board retains the authority to remove the offending items at the owner’s
expense.
PARKING REGULATIONS
1.
No
structure of a temporary character, trailer, basement, tent, shack, garage,
barn, or other outbuildings shall be used on any lot at any time as a
residence, either temporarily or permanently. No trailer, camper, boat,
recreational vehicle, truck larger than one (1) ton or similar equipment shall
be permitted to remain upon any property within the properties, unless placed
or maintained within an enclosed garage.
2. No vehicle shall be left standing in a
parking space in a non-operative condition or without a current license for
more than 30 consecutive days.
ACTIVITY
1. Article XI, Section 3 of the
Declarations provides that “no noxious or offensive activity shall be carried
on upon any lot or any part of the properties, nor shall anything be done
thereon which may be or may become an annoyance or nuisance to the
neighborhood, or which shall in any way interfere with the quiet enjoyment of
each of the owners of his/her respective dwelling unit, or which shall in any
way increase the rate of insurance.”
SAFETY
1.
Due
to the potential liability for the Homeowners Association, residents and guests
are not allowed to play in the walkways, on the landscaped areas, or around
parked cars. Bike/skateboard riding is
prohibited in the common areas.
SIGNS
1.
Article
XI, Section 2 of the Declarations provides that “no sign or billboard of any
kind shall be displayed to the public view on any portion of the properties or
any lot, except one sign for each building site of not more than eighteen
inches by twenty-four inches advertising the property for sale or rent.”
MISCELLANEOUS
2. Noise — Because of the close proximity of buildings in the
complex, excessive or extended noise
by music, loud conversation, a musical instrument, etc. can be very annoying to
other residents.
Residents must be considerate of neighbors when playing stereos, radios, and
TVs at all times. Use
of noisy appliances (washers, dryers, dishwashers, etc) is discouraged after
10:00PM.
3. Concerns
and Requests
- All concerns and requests must be submitted in writing to the board. The
board will act on concerns
in a timely manner and in a consistent manner. A timely written response will
be issued to the homeowner who filed the request/concern form.
4. Grievances
— Grievances of any unit owner may be submitted to the Board, in writing and
signed. The Board will address each grievance in accordance with its grievance
procedure (to be developed). If
you are disturbed by the actions (noise, pets, violations of declarations,
etc.) of another resident, you should first make personal contact with the
offending party, verbally or by written note, to make them aware that you are
being disturbed. If you do not feel
comfortable making personal contact or if results are not achieved with prior
attempts, call the property management company and voice your complaint
followed by a written notice. The board will review the claim and if the
complaint is substantiated, will send a letter or call the offending party. The
offending party will be offered an opportunity to appeal before the board
personally or submit documents to show their non-violation at the next
scheduled board meeting. If found in
violation, the board shall initiate a violation notification procedure, by
providing a first warning notice. If the violation is not corrected in a
reasonable time period, a second warning notice will be issued, giving a
reasonable time period for correction and warning the violator that the Board
may initiate corrective action on its own and place a lien on the property for
the amount of the corrective action. If
a homeowner fails to correct the violation, the board may place a lien against
the unit owner's residence at the unit owner's expense.
5.
Additions, Alterations, or Improvements -- any personal plants, flowers, etc. planted in
the common area shall be maintained by
the unit owners. Unit owners must have
prior written approval from the Board for any major transformation of the
common elements (e.g., plantings, ornamental or decorative fixtures).
6. Solicitors — Remind solicitors who come to your door that this is a
"closed complex" and that
soliciting is not allowed. If this person is suspicious looking and/or acting,
don't hesitate to call the police.
7. Cable
TV — Oakbrook
Townhouses has a group arrangement with Comcast for basic cable service. If you have problems with your cable TV
service, please call Comcast.
8. Rubbish,
Trash, Recycleable, and Garbage Collection – all rubbish, trash and
garbage shall be regularly removed from the properties and shall not be allowed
to accumulate thereon. All refuse containers, wood piles, storage areas and
machinery and equipment shall be prohibited upon any lot, unless obscured from
view of adjoining lots and streets by a fence or appropriate screen approved by
the Architectural Control Committee. Costs for removal of any rubbish, trash
and garbage generated by the owner of any lot shall be borne by such
owner. Unit owners are expected to
comply with the rules and regulations of Lakewood
9.
Monthly Dues - The monthly charges and assessments shall be
used exclusively for the benefit of the residents of the properties and to
carry out such purposes as are covered in the By-Laws. Each owner or contract
purchaser shall pay to the Association a monthly charge as established by the
membership at its annual meeting or at a special meeting called for that
purpose. The monthly charge may be increased by the Association with the
consent of two-thirds (2/3) of the members voting in person or by proxy. In addition to the monthly charges, the
Association may levy any assessment for any purpose as authorized herein by the
assent of two-thirds (2/3) of the votes of all members who are voting in person
or by proxy at the annual meeting or at a special meeting called for this
purpose. The monthly charges are due and payable on the first day of each
month. The due date of any assessment shall be fixed by the Association in the
resolution authorizing such assessment.
If any monthly charge or assessment is not paid within fifteen (15) days
after it was first due, a late fee in the amount set by the Board shall be
levied. No owner or contract purchaser shall be relieved of liability for the
assessments provided herein by non-use of the Common Area or abandonment of
his/her Lot .
10. Roof
or Ceiling Leaks
— All such leaks should be reported to the property management company,
Northwest Properties Agency, 9527
Bridgeport Way SW , Lakewood , WA 98499
11. Leases —All leases or rental
agreements shall be in writing and by its terms shall provide that the terms of
the lease are subject in all respects to the
provisions of the Declaration and Bylaws of the Association, and all rules and
regulations thereunder. Any failure by the lessee to comply with said documents
shall be a default in any lease or rental agreement. No owner may lease less than their entire unit.
The association shall supervise all leasing
or renting of units to insure compliance with this paragraph. Any lease or rental agreement to which the association does
not consent due to noncompliance
with this paragraph shall be null and void. Finally, the association shall not be held liable for any damages resulting from the
rejection of any lease or rental agreement they deem to be out of
compliance with this paragraph. Owners
are totally responsible to assure that their renter or lessee is provided with a copy of these house
rules, and that the lease or rental
agreement states that the renter or lessee
agrees to comply with all house rules. All owners are responsible
to assure that the association is provided a copy of said written agreement.
12.
Townhouse Keys — Neither the
Association Board nor the property management company has any keys or master keys for any of the units. Homeowners and
tenants are responsible for maintaining their own keys.
13.
Entry for Repairs — The Board or its
agents, acting for the Association, may enter any unit when necessary in connection with any maintenance, emergency or other necessary repairs, replacement, construction, or
other activity for which the association is responsible or for which the
unit owner is responsible, but failed to perform. Whenever possible, the Board or its agents
will attempt to notify unit owners before gaining access.
14.
Mail Boxes – Throughout the
history of Oakbrook Townhouses, we have been subject to periodic problems with
mail theft and vandalism. The Board
urges member to consider installing lockable mailboxes, prompt removal of mail,
reporting of any suspicious activity in the vicinity of our mailboxes to the
police or postal authorities. Bear in
mind that any deposit of material other than mail in a mail box is a Federal
offense.
15. Architectural Control – Article IX of the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and
Restrictions reflect the requirement for homeowners to secure approval for any
significant modification of their units, and reads as follows:
“…No building, fence,
wall or other structure shall be commenced, erected or maintained upon the
properties, nor shall any exterior addition to or change or alteration therein
be made until the plans and specifications showing the nature, kind, shape,
height, materials, and location of the same shall have been submitted to and
approved in writing as to harmony of external design and location in relation
to surrounding structures and topography by an Architectural Control Committee
of the Board of Trustees of the Association. In the event the Architectural
Control Committee fails to approve or disapprove such design and location
within 30 days after said plans and specifications have been submitted to it,
approval will not be required and this Article will be deemed to have been
fully complied with…”
16. Winterizing of Units – Members are reminded
that they are responsible for taking appropriate actions to winterize their
units, and the Board offers the following suggestions:
·
Disconnect
all hoses and sprinklers
·
Wrap
all outside pipes and faucets/install foam freeze caps
·
Keep
the heat at 60 degrees F. or more
·
When
temperatures drop below freezing, open doors to cabinets that have any plumbing
on the outside walls (eg., kitchen, bath)
·
It
is also a good time to change smoke detector batteries and furnace filters.
Approved by Oakbrook Townhouses Board December
6, 2010
Adopted by the Membership
January 18, 2011
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