Dispute with HOA Over Past Utility Bills
My question involves real estate located in the State of: california
Moved in to a new property with HOA in March of 1999. transferred all utilities to my name at that time. notified earlier this week by HOA that the previous property mgmt co (3 property managemnt co's ago) (employed by HOA) had called the electric co in july of 1999 and instructed the electric co to bill the prop mgmt co for my electric bills. (they even gave me the name of the person at the prop mgmt co that had done this). I immediatley this week transferred the electric bill back to my name. now the HOA is demanding that i attend a hearing so they can determine how much of the past 10 years bills (since the property mgmnt co had transfered my account) that i should pay. i had no idea that i was not receiveing the elec bill. (i was getting and all my other bills utlities, assoc etc) I asked the hoa how this could have happened and they said that the prop mgmt co did it and the hoa didn't peridically audit what the prop managemet co paid in elec bills, so they hadn't noticed for 10 years.
legally how much of the last 10 years bills am i obligated to pay? is there a statue of limitations for some of this in california? the hoa wants to have a hearing with me so they can tell me how much of the 10 years i owe. should i instead bring a lawyer or send them a legal letter with my positon? what is the best resolution for me in this matter.
thanks
Re: Dispute with HOA Over Past Utility Bills
Without knowing their exact claim, it's possible that they could come up with a theory for a longer contractual period; but most legal theories will limit them to two to four years no matter what facts they allege. If you wish to hire a lawyer to negotiate this for you, that's your right.