Why the Wafco Mills HOA Board Works Only with Owners, Not Tenants

Dear Wafco Mills Owners and Residents,

Welcome to our vibrant 66-unit community in Greensboro, North Carolina! As your volunteer HOA Board of Directors, we’re committed to fostering transparency and maintaining the standards that make Wafco Mills a wonderful place to live. Today, we’re clarifying why the Board works exclusively with owners, not tenants, why owners are 100% responsible for their tenants’ actions, and why our volunteer Board does not engage directly with tenants regarding owners’ real estate investment properties. Grounded in our governing documents and North Carolina law, this post aims to keep everyone informed and our community thriving.

Why the Board Works Only with Owners

The Wafco Mills HOA Board interacts solely with unit owners because only owners are members of the association, with legal rights and responsibilities under our governing documents and state law. Here’s why:

• Declaration of Condominium, Article III: Membership (Book 3239, Page 256, amended 1987):
  “Each Owner of a Condominium Unit shall be a member of the Association. Membership shall be appurtenant to and may not be separated from ownership of a Condominium Unit.”
  Only owners are HOA members, entitled to communicate with the Board on governance matters, such as maintenance, violations, or community decisions.

• Bylaws, Article 3: Meetings of Members (Book 3239, Page 316, amended 2000):
  “Each Owner shall be entitled to one vote for each Condominium Unit owned.”
  Voting and decision-making rights are reserved for owners, ensuring the Board’s focus remains on member interactions.

• North Carolina Condominium Act, NCGS § 47C-3-108:
  “The association shall deal only with unit owners or their designated representatives in matters pertaining to the condominium.”
  State law mandates that the HOA communicates exclusively with owners, promoting clarity and efficiency.

This structure allows our volunteer Board to serve the association’s members effectively, keeping communication streamlined for the benefit of our community.

Why Owners Are 100% Responsible for Their Tenants

Owners are fully responsible for their tenants’ actions, including informing them of and ensuring compliance with Wafco Mills’ rules and regulations. This responsibility is clear in our governing documents and state law:

• Rules and Regulations (July 2020, Page 5, Violations):
  “Owners are responsible for ensuring that their tenants comply with all Rules and Regulations.”
  Owners must provide tenants with the Rules and Regulations and ensure adherence to standards, such as keeping balconies free of trash or indoor furniture (Page 2). Violations result in $100 fines per occurrence, charged to the owner’s assessment account.

• Declaration of Condominium, Article XVIII: Maintenance and Repair by Owners (Book 5081, Page 0717, amended 2000):
  Owners maintain limited common elements (e.g., balconies) and are liable for any damage caused by their tenants, ensuring accountability for tenant behavior.

• North Carolina Condominium Act, NCGS § 47C-3-107.1:
  “The unit owner shall be responsible for the actions of any person occupying the unit, including tenants.”
  Owners are legally accountable for tenant compliance, including fines, damages, or violations (e.g., short-term rentals under Declaration, Article XV, requiring 30-day minimum leases, per website FAQ).

Owners must share the rules (available on WafcoMills.com) with tenants and enforce compliance to avoid penalties, protecting our community’s standards and property values.

Why the Board Does Not Volunteer Time to Support Owners with Their Tenants

Our Board consists of volunteer owners who dedicate their time to managing Wafco Mills’ operations without compensation. Engaging directly with tenants would place an unsustainable burden on these volunteers, as tenants are not HOA members, and their relationship is with the owner, not the association. Here’s why:

• Bylaws, Article 4: Powers and Duties of the Board (Book 3239, Page 316):
  The Board’s duties focus on serving members (owners), not acting as property managers for owners’ real estate investments. Tenant interactions are outside this scope.

• North Carolina Condominium Act, NCGS § 47C-3-102(a):
  The Board’s powers are limited to association governance, not managing owner-tenant relationships. Owners, as landlords, handle their investment properties, including tenant communications.

• Volunteer Capacity: As unpaid volunteers, Board members balance HOA duties with personal and professional responsibilities. Addressing tenant issues (e.g., explaining rules or resolving disputes) would divert time from critical tasks like maintenance oversight or budget planning, which benefit all owners.

When owners lease their units, they assume the role of landlords, responsible for managing tenant compliance. The Board supports owners by providing resources (e.g., Rules and Regulations on WafcoMills.com) but cannot volunteer time to act as intermediaries, ensuring fairness and efficiency.

Your Role as an Owner

Owners, you are key to keeping Wafco Mills harmonious by:

• Informing Tenants: Share the Rules and Regulations (July 2020) with your tenants, available on WafcoMills.com, and include them in lease agreements.

• Enforcing Compliance: Monitor tenant adherence to avoid fines (e.g., $100 per violation, Page 5) or damages charged to your account.

• Communicating with the Board: Contact us at WeLoveWafcoMills@gmail.com for any concerns, as we’re here to work with you directly.

Residents, you’re valued members of our community! Please direct questions or issues to your landlord, who will coordinate with the Board as needed.

Call to Action

Let’s keep Wafco Mills thriving together! Owners, please:

• Provide your tenants with the Rules and Regulations and ensure they follow them.

• Log into WafcoMills.com to access governing documents and stay updated.

• Email us at WeLoveWafcoMills@gmail.com with any questions.

For financial matters (e.g., assessments, fines), contact Priestly Management at (336) 379-1928 or info@priestleymanagement.com. Thank you for your partnership in making Wafco Mills a wonderful community!

Warm regards,
Joy Watson
President, Wafco Mills HOA Board