I am a property owner in Atlanta, victim of a corrupt condominium Homeowners Association (HOA) at Peyton Place Condominium Association. My personal experience has shown me that there is an urgent need for transparency and accountability in the way our condominium HOAs operate. It's time for us to demand change.

Our city, home to over 500,000 residents, has many people living in condos governed by HOAs. However, these associations often lack oversight and regulation. This can lead to mismanagement of funds and neglect of building maintenance - issues that I have personally experienced.

I am proposing the passing of legislation that all condominium HOA boards within the city be required to submit their annual budget to the City of Atlanta for review. This will ensure transparency in how our fees are being used and help prevent financial misconduct.

Additionally, we need a task force assigned with the responsibility of providing dispute resolution for condo owners who have issues with their HOA board. Currently, homeowners have little recourse when facing problems with their association.

Lastly, it is crucial that penalties be imposed on any HOA board failing to comply with standards necessary for exterior building repairs and failing to comply with financial transparency. Such negligence not only affects current residents but also limits opportunities for housing voucher recipients - an issue particularly relevant given Atlanta's affordable housing crisis.

This petition calls on the City Council of Atlanta to enact these changes as soon as possible. By doing so we can ensure better living conditions for all condo dwellers in our city while also expanding affordable housing options.

Please sign this petition if you believe in fair treatment and justice for all condo owners and condo renters in Atlanta.

Maintaining Oversight and Regulatory Efficiency (M.O.R.E.) Housing Act

Bill Summary

This bill will introduce legislation that will provide the city of Atlanta oversight into the operations of condominiums to aid in the fight to address housing shortages. Specifically, this bill will address the level of vacant homes within the confines of a condominium owner’s association (COA) purview, penalize COA’s who refuse to comply with the city of Atlanta's request for records related to the financial operation and the usage of said property (vacant, owner-occupied or rental), require relevant Associations to submit a plan to bring the establishment up to code for those that failed to meet the exterior builder requirements of Atlanta Housing for the purpose of increasing the amount of affordable housing in the market to condominium owners wishing to lease their property to Housing Choice Voucher (formerly known as section 8) recipients but have been hindered by their COA’s maintenance of the exterior of the property. 

SECTION 1

Condo Owner Association (COA) is defined as any Homeowner Owner Association (HOA) that is made up of a multifamily dwelling unit and legally fits the description of a condominium. 

COA’s within the city of Atlanta are hereby required to submit their annual budget to the Housing Commission for review. This allows for the evaluation of COAs on the verge of insolvency.

Condo Task Force: The creation of a standing task force (possibly within the existing Housing Commission) to handle and review COA data (e.g. annual budgets, number of COA fee delinquent units) and both owner complaints with the aim to provide both meditation duties and conflict resolution. 

If it is determined that a COA refuses to engage in mediation and do so in good faith, it shall be ruled to be in default. 

Unit Vacancies: Along with their annual budget, COAs will be required to the best of their ability to provide data on each unit in their purview and relate if any unit is either 1) owner-occupied (indicate if primary or secondary home), 2) rented or 3) vacant.

Action plan to meet the standard of Atlanta Housing if an inspection results in failure due to the exterior of the structure which in a COA is the responsibility of the COA.

SECTION 2

This section provides penalties and punishment for failure to comply. 

Any COA found to be in violation of the requirements of this law or found to be in default shall be fined up to $5,000 per occurrence.

Any COA board member found to be destroying or falsifying data submitted to the Task Force shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall face 6 months imprisonment and/or a fine up to $10,000.

Notes: This proposed legislation will not seek to override any existing HOA/COA bylaws or other restrictions related to the rental of units. For example, if an HOA/COA has rent cap restrictions rules, this proposed legislation would not force them to change rules but rather allow unit owners who are otherwise able to rent their units to do so within the framework of the Atlanta Housing (HCV) Housing Choice Voucher program  (formerly known as Section 8).