Homeowners group allows only married couples to rent

A Central Florida homeowners association covenant prohibits owners from leasing their homes to couples who aren't married, raising the ire of gay rights advocates and homeowners who can't locate tenants, reports Local 6 News in Orlando.

The development is near the University of Central Florida. The rules were created, in part, to prevent the homes from becoming similar to nearby college apartments.

But abandoned homes are forcing current residents to maintain the properties.

A man who owns a home in the development had to move to Texas for employment reasons is trying renting the house for $1,600 a month, including HOA fees.

"It's ridiculous,'' says Eric Marberg. "I might have to quit my job here and move down to Florida and try to get something going."


"Whether intended or not, this HOA law discriminates against many types of people," said Tom Dyer, publisher of The Watermark, an Orlando gay and lesbian magazine. "And what's most offensive is they're saying the only kinds of people who can form a cohesive responsible household unit are married heterosexuals. And that discriminates against lots and lots of people."

Fair or not?

You decide.

Not sure but when you purchase a property and know it includes an HOA, aren't the rules available for home buyers before they purchase?

Yep its all there in black and white before you sign. Hate to say it but its a binding contract and has been fought in court before and always comes out on the HOA side. That's why I would never buy into something like that. I want to be able to do what I want on my property as long as it meets county codes..

St. Louis had a problem like that a couple of years ago.

An unmarried inter-racial couple with children were buying the house. The county they were buying in had a law against unmarried people living there.

You can just imagine the anger on that!!

I'm with you

If I want to paint polka dots on my door, guess what I will paint polka dots on my front door.

I used to work in lending and those HOAs have A TON OF POWER. Can tell you how many trees you must have, no working on your car in the street, all sorts of weird stuff, and if you miss dues under any circumstance, the HOA can put a lien on you or take the house right out from under you. It's really rather ridiculous stuff. Many even have that there are to be NO satellite dishes visible. If you want a new fence or to put in a pool, they can tell you what kind or tell you NO!! It's very important to read it ALL as there are a lot of prejudices and inane things included. But people buying a house just see the dollar sign stuff and are usually 9/10 away from closing, and figure it's just garbledigook, UNTIL....................... IT'S TOOOOOOO LATE!!!!

which is making it so difficult for me
I do read, and if I don't understand, I ask or find out, if I don't agree, I'm verbal about it, if I have questions I ask.

Cape Coral Florida which I believe is the second largest land mass city in Florida has many city ordinances that I find outrageous. I would not live there for anything in the world. If I pay for something I dont want people dictating on what I can do...

I liked the news the other day that a neighborhood association that told a man he could not park his pickup in his driveway lost in court.

He'd bought a home in the neighborhood before they changed the conditions to disallow the parking of pickups in the driveway. Cars were okay according the them.

The association didn't just lose the case. They were ordered to pay the man's legal fee's as well amounting to over $100k.

I live in the country and would never consider giving away my freedom of choice by living in that sort of neighborhood.

In Florida if buy and theres a HOA...Its their way or the highway. You agree to there terms upon purchace. Many have tried and failed to fight one...In Orlando there is housing developments 20,000 plus homes in them all painted the same color. Why someone would want to buy a home with restrictions on what you can do is beyond me, but people do!!

I just can't figure out how an individual contract can override a state or federal law? Discrimination in any form should be against the law, yet there are those, as in Florida who seem to think an "individual" contract can substitute for the law of the land.

Unfortunately, the way I see it, is every person who pays those HOA dues is supporting the discrimination, no matter the form it takes. Those who did NOTHING about it as they were paying those dues are crying crocodile tears.

We MUST stop living the "I" existence. If "I" am not affected, what's the problem? It has to stop. The only way it stops is when EVERY person takes responsibility for their actions. Paying HOA is an action one is solely responsible for.

Does anyone else feel sorry for anyone who lives in those neighborhoods? Do you think they will have learned anything? I don't.

I agree with %100. But its not dicrimination since it you agrred to the rules when you bought. Trust me many have tried and failed to fight one! You would think people would understand what they signed. But things change and then they dont understand why!!! You would never catch me buying a home with a HOA involved!!!! What do you get? Some aminities? He!! I bought a home and put my own pool in. Now theres always a "FULL MOON" over N fort Myers and no one can say sh!t!!!!