Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Expulsion Policy

[Muriel Kranowski (murielk]

If Kawartha Commons residents own their homes, then as Diana says, at least
in the US an HOA can't force someone to sell their home or move out. What
the HOA can do is impose restrictions and penalties that have been legally
enacted by the cohousing entity and that are legally binding on
homeowners,  such that it will eventually cause the offending party to
decide to leave. Talk to an HOA lawyer, or the Canadian equivalent, to find
out how to do that.

If you operate by unanimous consensus with no voting option to resolve a
block, you'd better set such a policy in place long before the need arises.
That seem
s obvious, but it can be hard to put such a policy in place at that early
stage. Cohousing attracts idealistic people who believe all disputes can be
resolved by goodwill and talking it over and by applying social
consequences, and it can take a very negative experience to change their
minds, at which point, oops.
    Muriel at Shadowlake Village