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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">I have had this issue come up several times and litigated it also the bottom line is if there was nothing of record that imposed a restriction or made property subject to covenants or make it a HOA member it
cannot be enforced except where the owner after the sale voluntarily became a member participated in the HOA paid amounts assessed and accepted benefits of membership in HOA<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Bryce H. Dille<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Dille Law, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">2010 Caton Way SW Ste. 101<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Olympia, WA 98502<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Office: 360-350-0270<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Cell: 253-579-5561<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><img width="147" height="39" style="width:1.5312in;height:.4062in" id="yiv4204109992_x005f_x0000_i1027" src="cid:image003.png@01D86B94.87381100" alt="R_Alan_Swanson-WH-200"></span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">** Please note that I use the dictation feature of my iPhone and that sometimes everything I say does not get properly translated**<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">This transmission contains confidential attorney-client communications and may not be disclosed to any person but the intended recipient(s). If this matter is transmitted to you in error, please notify the sender
immediately. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Business Entity Creation and Management, Business, Government and Tax Law, Real Estate and Land Use, Residential, Commercial and Condominium Development Real Estate and Commercial Transactions & Closings, Including
Performing Services as IRS Section 1031 Exchange Facilitator Estate Planning, including Wills and Trusts, and Probate Administration Representation Homeowners/Condominium Association Real Estate Developments Real Property Foreclosures and Forfeitures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Tom Westbrook<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 19, 2022 3:13 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] HOA "jurisdiction" question (Pre-RCW 64.38)<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Hello Michael,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">I don’t want to say that I have any legal authority to point to on this, other than to say without properly recorded protective covenants of some sort, the only other way I believe
an HOA can have authority to act on behalf of all lots and homeowners is if there was a contractual basis between all homeowners when the HOA was formed that they all agreed to be held accountable to the HOA for assessments. If that exists, I would then look
to HOA Bylaws, rules and regulations, if any. In my mind (which can be a scarry place at times) the only homeowners that can be held accountable are the ones that have agreed to be held accountable. I would also recommend that the HOA record something that
purports to hold homeowners accountable so it is picked up by title searches when a home or lot is sold in the future. Or all homeowners agree to some new CC&Rs going forward that are recorded. I don’t believe a mention of private roads in the recorded subdivision
map gets you to an HOA that has authority to assess every lot; at least I sure wouldn’t want to be litigating that question.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">That’s my 2 cents which is worth less today than even yesterday…………</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Sincerely,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Tom</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Thomas J. Westbrook</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Attorney at Law</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img width="152" height="62" style="width:1.5833in;height:.6458in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D86B94.873C2FB0"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1F497D">324 West Bay Drive NW, Suite 201</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1F497D">Olympia, WA 98502</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1F497D">(360) 866-4000 phone</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1F497D">(360) 866--3832 fax</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:#1F497D"><a href="http://www.buddbaylaw.com/"><span style="color:blue">www.buddbaylaw.com</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:red">COVID POLICY:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#1F497D">Our firm continues to follow guidance from the CDC and Governor Inslee’s office regarding social distancing and the wearing of face coverings, and we encourage the public and our clients to do the same. Our
staff is still working remotely much of the time so electronic communication by phone and email continues to be encouraged. We appreciate your patience and understanding.</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">
wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Michael Kelly<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 19, 2022 10:49 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] HOA "jurisdiction" question (Pre-RCW 64.38)<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello all,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A large lot subdivision recorded in the 1970’s depicts “private roads for ingress, egress, utilities & drainage” with no other mention of joint maintenance obligations or association membership.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the early 1980’s, several of the owners of lots in the LL subdivision formed a nonprofit purporting to be an HOA that now attempts to assess the 50 or so lots located within the original LL subdivision. Some of those original lots of
have been subsequently subdivided into smaller lots via short plats. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is no mention of an HOA on title or in legal descriptions of any of these lots. There are no maintenance or assessment covenants recorded against the properties. The only thing on title is the original LL subdivision creating the
private roadway easements.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s unclear how many of the owners pay assessments. This may not be relevant to my question, but Clients own property within the LL subdivision and understand several owners have not paid assessments for decades. Clients are also skeptical
that road maintenance occurs with any regularity or in such a way that benefits all lots.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I understand that absent joint maintenance agreements, the responsibility for the maintenance and repair of such easements should fall to those who benefit from the easements.
<i>See Donner v. Blue</i>, 187 Wash. App. 51, 56 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My question(s):<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can the “HOA” assess these lots? Does its authority come from RCW 64.38 as an HOA? If so, I presume the ability to lien and foreclose would follow. (I suppose you can always “assess” a lot, the more appropriate question may be “are lot
owners obligated to pay these general assessments?”)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Or does the HOA’s authority somehow stem from common law related to the responsibility for maintenance and repair of easements?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am trying to reconcile the need for maintenance and a mechanism for all owners to pay their fair share (per common law, if this isn’t a true HOA situation) versus the rights of an HOA to make and collect general assessments if there are
no covenants or obligations to pay these assessments to an HOA encumbering these lots.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It seems to me if the general assessments were not measured in such a way that directly reflect each lot owners benefit from an easement, and were for costs not directly attributable to maintenance, they would be in derogation of common
law.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sorry for the bit of a ramble… any thoughts are much appreciated. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;background:white">Michael Kelly
</span></b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:#8497B0;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;background:white">|</span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;background:white">
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;background:white">Attorney</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#424242;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;background:white">Direct: 360-529-0808</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#8497B0;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;background:white"><a href="mailto:mike@soundlawfirm.com">mike@soundlawfirm.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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