The administrative procedures of the Association’s new rental policy are now in place and will be effective as of July 1.

The new program will require every rental applicant 18 or older to submit a detailed application form, authorize the Association to obtain a credit report and criminal background check, and be interviewed by the Property Manager and, if need be, a Board Director.

The Association will have the right to reject an applicant for various reasons and, in certain circumstances, evict a tenant as well. Landlords who are delinquent in their maintenance assessments will not be permitted to rent their property until their account is current.

The new rental policy was approved by an overwhelming homeowner vote at the 2010 Annual Members Meeting, which the Board sought for three reasons:

1. The dramatic increase in rentals during the economic downturn – over 10% of homes in the Lakes are now rental properties versus about 4% in 2005.

2. The discovery that we were the only association in our zip code that had no rental policy.

3. The need to know and approve those who live in rental properties and hold them accountable for unacceptable behavior once they move in.

For complete details about the new policy, including the forms to be used and the authorization for this policy provided for in the Governing Documents, please go to http://www.thelakesitenews.com and click the Rental Policy tab on the main menu at the far left.

Alan Kellock