The HOA Wants to Shut Me Down

[craftymissbeth]

You're running a business. There is no gray area here. You are providing a service out of your home for the exchange of money. Even SAHM babysitters are running businesses.

http://i.word.com/idictionary/business

[MOM OF 4 SIGNED OUT]

Before paying the attorney $250 an hour i would read over the paperwork you signed with the HOA. The posters above may be right.

DO THIS FIRST. You need to know what you signed. You also can ask them to show you where any agreement not to babysit is listed there. Go over your master agreement yesterday. I'm very good at scouring contracts, so you can scan and pm me if you want under MOM OF 4

Good luck!

[MOM OF 4 SIGNED OUT AGAIN]

Do you guys own the interior/exterior of the home and the plot of land it's on? If so, how can anyone tell you what you can do INSIDE the home you own? I can see if the HOA is managing the outside property in a community asking you to keep your property nice (lawn cut, no trash, etc, which no one should be objecting that kind of thing), but what you do inside the home YOU own shouldn't be anyone's business, so long as it's not illegal. You're not running a meth lab, you're babysitting a few kids on occasion, for pay. You can call yourself a part-time babysitter for friends. The wording may just save you from a problem in court. Do not refer to yourself as a child care or Day care, or even providing child or day care. Simply say "Your honor, IDK what the HOA's problem is.I sometimes babysit for my teacher friends. I sometimes accept pay, sometimes I don't. I do so IN my home, they are not a disturbance to the neighbors and we do not leave any messes outside, so IDK on what basis, the HOA feels they need to 'shut' me down, as I am neither required to have a license for what I do, nor am I a center or even considered a "home' daycare provider. I am none of what they are saying is a problem"

In other words: You are a part-time babysitter for this case. You said you don't have kids in summer, and I wouldn't even give them a 'schedule' I'd just say "If one of them call me, I'll sit for them" and give as little info as possible.

[Unregistered]

Move?

[Unregistered]

I live in an HOA too. Mine doesn't allow any business related activites per the covenant. Ours is very detailed. Ours you can't even sell avon or similar products from your home. Depending on how "strict" your HOA is you can see if you can get a waiver maybe. Personally, I think you are fighting a long battle.

[Unregistered]

I live in an HOA too. Mine doesn't allow any business related activites per the covenant. Ours is very detailed. Ours you can't even sell avon or similar products from your home. Depending on how "strict" your HOA is you can see if you can get a waiver maybe. Personally, I think you are fighting a long battle.

Edited:
I know my association we have a lot of people with lots of time on their hands to find every little thing they can and report others. In your case..if you have the same cars coming and going daily during the same time periods that might have been noticed and reported.

[BrooklynM]

What state are you in?