How I Got Us Fair Flooring Rules

For years, some units in our community have had hardwood floors that didn’t comply with HOA rules designed to protect noise levels and property values. Despite ongoing complaints, the board hadn’t addressed these issues for years.

I complained of the absence of any “grandfather clause” for the flooring in the 2008 Ocean Beach CCRs. After I pointed this out, they patched over the loophole in the 2024 Ocean Beach CCRs, by adding a grandfather clause.

To promote fairness and clarity, I took the initiative to review Zillow listings and identify units with non-compliant flooring. I then sent polite, specific complaints for each, requesting the board clarify the rules so they would be applied consistently to all homeowners, here is one example out of a dozen or so emails sent over the course of 2-3 months

While the board expressed frustration—claiming they were “too busy” to handle these longstanding concerns—my persistence helped push for rule changes that some residents now appreciate. It also resulted in the HOA blocking my emails “for life” with no due process and without warning.

This effort wasn’t about causing conflict. It was about fairness, transparency, and protecting our community’s quality of life.

Prior to the board banning my emails, a board member wrote a group email on March 28th, 2022. In it, the board member states that these units were “grandfathered” in. The board member also accuses me and other homeowner(s) of making “baseless allegations” about board members having the flooring themselves, but doesn’t deny it and incorrectly tells a resident who is CCd and lives under this flooring that “there is no proof” (which isn’t the point):

The other resident replied the same day to repeat their observations that board members have the flooring. We also pointed out that many residents have installed it after the rule change and were not grandfathered in. We simply wanted to know the fair and documented process.

There was nothing about being “grandfathered in” in our governing documents. The process for who gets hardwood floors? Apparently whatever management wants, see for yourself in the email from management to me and another homeowner on March 28th, 2022:

On April 26th, 2022; The board asks me to stop sending the complaints to the personal email. I immediately stopped, and and sent the complaints to the new HOA gmail account they created.

This would begin the stonewalling that, according to HOA attorney, means the HOA will “never read or reply to another of your emails ever again”.

If you want to learn more about the communication challenges that followed—especially how the board blocked my emails and tried to silence homeowners—check out: 📨 The HOA Will Reply — Unless It’s About Money or Accountability

Despite the board blocking my emails and dismissing me, suddenly the rules changed within a month or two despite the board previously saying the rules would not change. By exposing, documenting, and sharing the evidence of selective enforcement, we were able to restore transparency and fairness to our community.