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HOA President Asks for Council’s Help As president of Aliso Villas Condominium Association, a 424-unit HOA in Mission Viejo, I am writing to ask your help. The bylaws of our association state: “County law and the Association Bylaws state that garages may be used for parking vehicles and storage only, and shall not be converted for living or recreational activities. Also, they are not to be used as playrooms, workshops, mechanic's sheds, offices, sleeping quarters, dog kennels, etc.” I would like to know how we can go about enforcing the law with regard to residents using their garages as living/sleeping quarters. This has been going on for some time, and we receive complaints from time to time. However, recently we have come across several addresses that have converted their garages into living/sleeping quarters. This has to stop; we are overcrowded as it is without residents/tenants converting their garages into living space. Each unit has a garage. There are 106 buildings; of those, 212 units have direct access to their garage. Of the remaining 212, 106 have gas water heaters situated in the garage, and the other 106 are situated at the rear of the building with no direct access, having entry to the garage by walking around the entire building. Recently our security company, Patrol One, reported to the board that one of the units had a converted garage. I drove past one day when the garage door was open and took a picture. Our management company, PCM, sent a letter to the onsite homeowner notifying him that he was in violation of the rules – city and association – and he must remove the wall in his garage. The homeowner wrote back stating that was incorrect, and he did not have a room in his garage. On Wed. July 19, at 10:19 a.m., during our regular weekly property walk, my property manager and I noticed a blanket sticking out from under the pedestrian door to the garage in this over-the-garage unit. This also happens to be a unit with a gas water heater inside the garage. Noting what appeared to be a new doorknob and deadbolt on the pedestrian door, I knocked several times. After about the third time, the door was opened by a male. I asked what he was doing in there. He obviously was living and sleeping in the garage. A moment later a young female came into view. I asked the male how old he was, he replied he was 18. The female declined to state her age, and when I asked if she also lived there, the male said she was his girlfriend, and he rented the room and was not aware of any rules about living/sleeping in a converted garage. I replied that the owner would be notified by the HOA and the city. The HOA has within its power to fine and request compliance; however, we need the council to get behind us to force removal and, I hope, impose stiffer fines through the city. This is but one address where it’s a problem. Residents need to be aware that breaking the law is not an option, nor is living/sleeping in the garage. What can the council do to help this Mission Viejo neighborhood? Thank you. Kathy Miramontes |
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