Some HOAs require owners to register cars

Q: Our homeowners association's covenants, conditions and restrictions prohibit the use of garage space for storage. Whenever I question the management company about compliance of this regulation, I am told they have no right to inspect these premises because it is private property.

My question is why do we have regulations on the books that are unenforceable. I should mention that I am on the HOA board and one of my pet peeves is parking violations. The same people who are using their garages for storage are illegally parking in visitor parking space. In six years under two management companies no one has been able to handle this problem. What do you suggest?

A: Many associations have this similar problem. A number of these associations have the homeowners register their vehicles with the association once a year. The association provides the homeowners with parking tags that are placed on their vehicles. This allows the association to be able to identify who owns the vehicles. If homeowners are using visitors' parking spaces, they would receive courtesy letters.

You don't have to inspect a garage to see if it is being used as storage. If you know homeowners who are not using their garage for parking their vehicles, send them a courtesy letter.

It would be the homeowner who would have to show the association that they are not in violation. They would have to either show you their garage or supply a photo of the inside the garage.

Q: I am an avid reader of your column and I have a question. I bought my new home at Silverstone Ranch in 2003. It backs onto a street.

In about 2006, the association installed an irrigation solar panel in the landscape backing my rear fence. This was visible from my property. At that time, I contacted the HOA and it lowered the panel below the fence line.

In July, the panel was raised and is visible again from my home. I wrote a letter and sent photos to the HOA, requesting that the panel be lowered (not removed) as it was before. The HOA board of directors denied the request.

What are my options? The sight of it is very disturbing to me. I have sent you photos.

A: You did not indicate why the association will not lower the solar panel. I have to assume there is some technical reason why it had to be raised in order to maximize its operation. You need to find out if there is a technical problem and see if there is another solution other than raising the panel.

It may take some research, beginning with the company who installed the panels.

You should try to contact that company if you cannot obtain a satisfactory answer from the board. The location of the solar panel is on common area, and the association has the right to operate the panel in that location.

One possible solution, which would cost you some money, would be for the association to allow you to raise the rear block wall.

Another possible solution, which would cost less money, is to install landscaping, such as a tree that would block the view of the solar panel. Unfortunately, these appear to be the only options.

Note: The state Office of the Ombudsman has scheduled several free HOA classes in October. Some that are being held in the Las Vegas area are: CC&R Violations, Fines and Collections, noon - 2 p.m. Oct. 19, Peccole Ranch HOA, 9501 Red Hills Road; Reserve Studies, 10 a.m.-noon, Oct. 20, Ridgemont Townhomes HOA, 5601 Ridgetree Ave.; HOA Financial Statements, 3-5 p.m., Oct. 23, Terra West, 6655 S. Cimarron Road, Suite 200.

Barbara Holland, certified property manager, broker and supervisory certified association manager, is president and owner of H&L Realty and Management Co. Questions may be sent to Association Q&A, P.O. Box 7440, Las Vegas, NV 89125. Fax is 385-3759, email is support@hlrealty.com. Holland is also available to speak at your organization or company.