Our HOA wants to start charging for grandkids to use the pool.
By @noeltbh · Family
The board just proposed a new rule where non-resident grandkids need a paid 'guest pass' to come to our neighborhood pool. This completely messes up our summer childcare plans with my parents.
The full story
I'm so annoyed I could scream. We got an email from the HOA board announcing a proposed rule change for the community pool. Effective immediately, they want to start requiring a $5 daily pass for any 'non-resident minors,' which is a very thinly veiled way of saying 'grandkids.' My parents live about 20 minutes away and they are a huge help in the summer, frequently picking up my kids (7 and 10) from day camp and taking them to our pool for the afternoon. Now, if this rule passes, every time my own mom wants to take my kids to swim, she'll have to pay $10 for the privilege. The board's argument is that our dues cover residents, and guests create extra cost (lifeguards, chemicals, wear-and-tear) and overcrowding. They say people without visiting grandkids are subsidizing those who have them. My argument is... that's what a community is! We're not talking about my kids' entire friend group coming over for a party. We're talking about grandparents. It makes our neighborhood feel less like a community and more like a cheap motel. It's not about the money, really (although it would add up to almost $100 a month), it's the principle. It just feels so unwelcoming and like they're trying to squeeze every last dime out of families.
How people voted
- OP Is Right — 30% (22 votes)
- Both Messy — 39% (29 votes)
- OP Is Wrong — 31% (23 votes)
Readers are split: “Both Messy” leads with 39% — 74 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@sighsame — Are we sure grandparents aren't bringing over half the day camp with them? This kind of rule doesn't usually come from nowhere.
@piakindof — Our HOA tried to tell my dad his flag pole was too high so he replaced it with a slightly shorter, much wider one lol. people on boards like this are wild.
@thatguymike — I'd start paying the $5 in pennies and demand a receipt every single time.
@violettbh — That is so frustrating! Grandparents helping out is what makes a neighborhood feel like home.
@elijahbye — This whole thing is just a power trip from a board that loves enforcing rules more than building a community.
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