​Recently, a poll was taken of Homeowners regarding “vacation” or “transient” rentals in Canterwood. This type of tenancy is short term to a tenant who is not actually intending to be a resident in Canterwood, particularly when brokered through an entity like AirBnB of VRBO. Washington Courts have regularly treated this kind of rental as a commercial activity inconsistent with restrictions in the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (“CCR”)  limiting the use of properties governed by the CCR to a single-family residential use. There is such a limitation in the Canterwood CCR.
 
The number of respondents in the poll was 265, 206 against and 59 for allowing vacation rentals. Of the voted against, 131 were in favor of restrictions of 90 days or longer. The remainder supported a complete prohibition. Among the concerns discussed by the Board relating to vacation rentals were security, potential liability and, maintaining the character of the community. Among other things, under the CCR, the Board is charged with preserving the character of Canterwood as a “rural, family-oriented community.” With respect to security, among other things, allowing vacation rentals would mean expanded access into Canterwood. There are a variety of potential liability issues arising from the fact that there is no mechanism for enforcing Canterwood regulations, as in speed limits against non-homeowners. Likewise, there is no mechanism for enforcing for example, noise regulations against non-homeowners.
 
Accordingly, the Board has proposed adopting the following rule:
Compensated rentals of less than 60 days duration are a non-residential use and are prohibited.
 
Under this rule, a homeowner would not be prohibited from allowing a non-compensated tenancy, as for example by a family member or friend, of any duration.
 
However, given that the response to the survey did not represent a majority, the Board is electing to postpone the effective date of the rule until June 1 to allow further input from Homeowners. If you have questions, comments, approvals or objections, please direct them to the Board prior to the May 27, Board meeting at which meeting, formal adoption of the Rule will be up for consideration.
 
Your comments are welcome, please provide them in writing to cwhoa@hoacommunitysolutions.com. 

 
As part of our ongoing effort to improve security within Canterwood, the Board of Directors promised to upgrade our visitor management software by replacing dwellingLIVE. We are following through on that promise with the introduction of Gate Key.   With access via both web-based browser and smartphone app, we should all find Gate Key simple to use and far more versatile than dwellingLIVE.
 
While we had hoped to introduce Gate Key gradually and phase it in to give everyone a chance to get used to it, circumstances beyond our control have forced us to roll it out without the transition period we anticipated and hoped for. 
 
Registering permanent and temporary guests in Gate Key is a simple and efficient process.  If every household in the Canterwood Homeowners Association uses Gate Key to register our guests and email electronic passes to them, it will greatly enhance security within our community while speeding up the entry process for our guests at the main gate.
 
You have been mailed your individual login credentials for Gate Key. Please login right away to access and personalize your account. Gate Key offers too many features to fully describe here, but the letter provides links to tutorials and FAQs to get started and begin accessing its features.  Please note vehicle information cannot be edited by users. In anticipation of issuing RFID transponders this summer, only HOA office staff can edit vehicle information. In the event of difficulty with the website or app, please use the email address in the FAQs for support to receive prompt assistance with your account and profile.
 
 
Your Canterwood Board of Directors 

Canterwood Residents,

The HOA office has noticed a recent uptick of compliance violations within the community. The most regularly noticed are underage drivers driving golf carts, removal and screening of garbage cans from view and exterior projects being started without approval from the Architectural Control Committee. 

We would like to remind everyone that even during the COVID - 19 mandates,  the Rules and Regulations and Residential Guidelines still apply to all residents and their guests. Penalties for non-compliance with governing documents may still be assessed in the future.

We invite you all to go to the Canterwood Website, canterwood.org, to review and update yourself on Canterwood's policies and procedures.

If you are uncertain about a specific rule or aren't sure whether an outdoor project needs to be reviewed by the ACC, please do not hesitate to call or email the HOA Office. We are here to help and encourage you to reach out. The office number is 253-851-6158 and the email is canterwood@bell-anderson.net. 

The HOA office is still on limited hours of operation but are able to respond to emails and return phone messages within 24 hours. 
 
Sincerely,
The Canterwood HOA Office
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