What
does "deed restricted community" really mean?
A deed restricted
community is a development in which the property deed
is granted with restrictions as to how the property
can be used. For example, if you sold your vacation
property to your children with a deed restriction
that they could never sub-divide the property. The
restrictions are recorded with the state of Florida
as part of the description of the lots within the
subdivision. Also, when a
person buys in this subdivision they are agreeing to
abide by the deed restrictions simply by knowing that
this is a deed restricted community and the
purchasing a home here.
Not only do deed restricted communities increase
property values (over non-deed restricted communities)
but they look nicer in almost every case. Return
to top of page.
What
are the most common restrictions in Bridlewood?
Here are a few of
the items you might need to know: Overnight parking
is not allowed on community streets. You can't park a
boat in your driveway. You need prior approval of the
Board before
making any changes to the outside of your house.
Garbage cannot be put by the street until the evening
before pickup. (The neighborhood raccoons may
convince you to wait until the morning of pickup day,
however). Outside sheds are not permitted. Return
to top of page.
What
if I make a change to my home without approval of the
Board?
Oops. It depends. If you have
merely painted your house in a different, but
compatible color, nothing will happen. But, for
instance, if you feel that bright red is compatible,
you will end up being required to repaint your house.
In most cases, getting approval before making changes
will ensure that what YOU may feel is appropriate is
compatible with the greater good of the community.
The person who wants to install a 90 foot ham radio
tower is not thinking of it's adverse impact on the
neighborhood, he is thinking about how well his radio
will work. By far, the safest bet is to get the
approval first. Return to top of
page.
Who
can I contact with a specific question or complaint?
Your first contact
should be with the management company, Management and Associates.
Joan Fissella
is a paid representative for Bridlewood. She can
either answer your question or send you to someone
who can help. She serves Bridlewood and about 10
other homeowner's associations and can be reached at
(813) 433-2009. If a
resident has a problem and cannot get in contact with
Joan they can contact any member of the board
who should be able to help with the problem. Any
questions that a new or existing homeowner may have
should be able to be answered by any member of the
board. Return to top of page.
How
many houses are there in Bridlewood, and who is excused
from paying the annual assessment fees?
There are 135 lots
and 133 homes. Two homes own two lots each. All 135
lots are assessed and pay the fee each year. The
homeowners with the extra lot pay for each lot. There
are no exceptions. Return
to top of page.
What
if I decide that I don't want to pay the annual fee to
the association?
By the nature of
deed restrictions, the annual assessment is not an
optional experience. There are late fees and
penalties written into the deed restrictions, and,
ultimately, a lien can be put on your property, and
your house can be sold to satisfy the lien.
Fortunately, most people are aware of their
obligations, and such drastic action has never
happened in our community. People in Pinellas county have
lost their homes for non-payment of fees, however,
and the procedure is in place to enforce the
community standards. Return
to top of page.
What does "deed restricted
community" really mean?