A COUPLE hoping to save money on electricity got a shock when they were instead hit with a $3,188 fine from their homeowners’ association.
They've slammed the group for penalizing improvements on their home of 13 years in Kansas.
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The costly conflict erupted after southwest Wichita couple Jeff and Jill Terhune decided to install solar panels during a roof revamp.
But there was confusion over whether they had in fact received permission from the Turkey Creek HOA, they told local CBS affiliate KWCH.
And the association itself has rejected any criticizm - saying the Terhunes' problem is self-inflicted.
That's because the HOA doesn't want any panels to be in clear view of the street - as per its strict rules.
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However, Jill and Jeff are adamant that the panels are well hidden, as they were installed on a garage - not the house itself.
Jeff and Jill told the broadcaster they had been interested in tapping into the renewable energy market.
The federal government has incentivized homeowners to switch to solar energy with a solar tax credit of up to 30 percent of installation costs.
"We were looking to save money,” Jeff said.
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The duo maintains that they applied to their HOA after researching the panels.
Association reps "came back and said, ‘not on the front of the house," explained Jeff.
He added: “I went ahead and called the HOA and spoke with their representative and said, ‘the panels are going on the side of the garage - not on the front of the house.'
"They reiterated, ‘not on the front of the house.’”
STREET VIEW
Because there was - reportedly - no further clarification or warning, “we thought everything should be fine,” Jill added, as the garage roof doesn’t face the street.
The solar panels were thus placed on the side of the garage three years ago, and on the back of the house during a revamp.
Jill said: “To me, that would not be considered the front of the house.
“If that’s the front of the house, then the other side of the garage is the front of the house, and that doesn’t even make sense.”
All was well until, suddenly, they received a letter early last year from their HOA warning that the solar panels were in violation of its covenants.
Then the fines started piling up.
In July 2022, the initial financial penalty was "50 bucks, then it was $500 and it just keeps going,” Jeff said.
The penalty has dramatically spiralled to reach a current total of $3,188.
What's more, the Tenhures have received a letter from their HOA outlining its intention of putting a lien on their home of 13 years - giving them 30 days' notice to pay up.
UNDER PRESSURE
Jeff told the broadcaster: “That’s the big deal right there; that really puts a lot of stress with everything else that’s going on.”
Jill added: “It’s really kind of scary because we don’t want to pay money we don’t feel like we should have to, but we have to get it cleared up because we don’t want a lien on our house."
They are exploring their options, and have also started a petition, gathering signatures from their neighbors, to fight the lien.
HOA 'VIOLATIONS'
A spokesperson for the HOA said the project form submitted by the couple several years ago had not been officially approved.
The panels can be seen from the street "and violations are enforceable" as per its covenant, they added.
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The HOA stressed that the panels shouldn’t have been installed in the first place.
Furthermore, it wasn’t until last year that the area's developer allowed solar panels to be placed on a rear roof - which must not be visible from the street, they said.
