A Tennessee family was allegedly threatened with fines by their homeowners’ association to remove the generator that was heating their house, as the neighborhood was plunged into darkness during below-freezing temperatures.
Talia Caravello said she was told that her generator didn’t comply with the aesthetic code of her townhouse in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood of Nashville when she lost electricity during a brutal ice storm on Sunday, according to WSMV.
Caravello purchased a $1,500 generator, extension cords and space heaters to keep her family warm as indoor temperatures dropped to 30 degrees following the storm that left four people dead.
“We were so happy, and we were able to have our friends here who also didn’t have power,” Caravello told the outlet. “We all got to be together, and you know, that makes it a lot better when you’re hanging out with people that you love. But even sleeping at night, it’s still tough, no matter the layers.”
Caravello says she purchased the generator to remain at home instead of finding shelter elsewhere during the blackout.
The generator was allegedly set up outside on the family’s porch and the cords ran through the door to power the space heaters to make it manageable to remain inside.
Caravello only had her appliance running for a few hours before she received a frightening message from the HOA management company, Metropolitan Properties.
“General- Gas generators are not allowed due to a fire hazard. All exterior items must be approved. Please remove immediately,” the letter obtained by the outlet stated.
The property service company claims it spotted the generator during an inspection of the townhomes amid the blackout and threatened to fine Caravello if she didn’t have it removed.
Metropolitan Properties prides itself as a “one stop shop for residential, commercial property owners and real estate developers desiring local representation in property and community management, accounting, facilities maintenance, leasing and tenant care,” according to its website.
It serves over 400 communities and 25,000 homes across Middle and Eastern Tennessee
The company, which was founded in 2009, also noted in the letter that there was an “urgency and importance of maintaining the quality appearance of all the homes” in the complex.
The frustrated Caravello blasted the HOA company because of the aesthetic code mentioned in the note.
“Super angry because why is that even a possibility right now? Why do they care so much when people are just trying to stay warm and survive?” she said.
Caravello lit candles and turned on faucets to prevent them from freezing up, but the family eventually packed their bags and went to a friend’s house for warmth.
“We try to spend time here, but it’s unbearable,” Caravello said about not being allowed to use the generator. “It’s super weird and upsetting because we need it. Obviously, anyone wants to have power. I’d much rather get electricity back than have to use that forever.”
After being pressed about the letter sent to Caravello, Metropolitan Properties reversed course and announced it was allowing the use of a generator as a “one-time” exemption until the power was restored.
Over 57,000 customers in Nashville remain without power after the brutal ice storm from Winter Storm Fern blasted Music City with up to 2 inches of ice between Jan. 25 and Jan. 26, according to Nashville Electric Services.
NES has not given a timeline of when power would be restored around the city after over 250,000 customers were plunged into darkness after the deadly storm.
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