Federation seeks to help

December 20, 2007

Federation seeks to help

I enjoyed your editorial column on anti-renting covenants (Suburban renting causes controversy in Madison, Dec. 13).

I have not researched this issue yet, but my initial legal opinion would be that a subdivision can only enforce covenants that are adopted before property is purchased. Once a person purchases property, he or she is vested with certain rights that usually cannot be taken away, only reasonably regulated through covenant enforcement or by governments for general public health and welfare. If, when a person purchases property, there is a covenant in place that says one can't rent or lease, that would be binding because the person is purchasing a "smaller" bundle of rights.

The Federation of Madison County Home Owners Associations hopes to serve as vehicle to assist in the resolution of issues such as this. We believe that the overall goal of the city of Madison in assisting in covenant enforcement is to promote property values and public safety and to maintain our community's quality of life. It is not, as another paper's editor wrote, to establish some sort of "exclusive" community.

Al Sage

Madison