General Information

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Aspen Meadows Community Facebook Page

Aspen Meadows offers a community Facebook page titled The Aspen Meadows Home Owners Association to residents (Full or Part Time) and one (1) additional family member. Below is an overview of guidelines when engaging (posting and commenting) on the page.

Our Aspen Meadows Facebook page is a valuable communication service to the community. It is our primary vehicle for sharing information about events - in the neighborhood and community - as well as a great place for sharing recommendations, items for sale/free in the neighborhood, safety and security notices, and other information that is important to the whole neighborhood of Aspen Meadows. Periodically, the HOA Board has authorized the Communication Committee to make improvements to the Facebook page to enhance users’ experiences and to make Facebook a safe and positive space for all. A previous example of improvement was changing the Group to a “Closed Group,” so that only residents (and a designated family member, if desired) have access to the content. 

Recently, the Communications Committee met to develop some specific guidelines for posting and commenting on posts on the Aspen Meadows Facebook page. The guidelines are similar to those that other Facebook groups follow, and we believe that they will result in a better, more positive, experience for all the members of the Facebook Group. At the last HOA Board meeting, the Board accepted and approved the Committee’s proposed guidelines. 

Please familiarize yourself with these important guidelines and adhere to them if you post and comment on the Aspen Meadows Facebook page. Should you violate one of these guidelines, you will receive a warning. A second violation will result in your Aspen Meadows Group Facebook account being suspended for 30 days. Should you violate a guideline a third time, your Aspen Meadows Facebook access will be suspended permanently.

Should you need to refer to these guidelines in the future, they will be available as a “File” on the Facebook main page, as well as outlined below"

A good rule of thumb to think about before you post or comment: Will what I post be meaningful to or benefit the Aspen Meadows Community?

Official Facebook Page Community Guidelines

1. Be Kind and Courteous. NO FOUL LANGUAGE.

We are all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Let us treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required.

2. No Hate Speech or Bullying 

Make sure everyone feels safe. Bullying of any kind is not allowed, and degrading comments about things like race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender, or identity will not be tolerated.

3. Feuds or disputes between neighbors should not be aired on the Facebook group. And, if you have a disagreement with a neighbor, contact that person PERSONALLY.

An issue between neighbors should remain between the neighbors and not be shared with the entire community. The rest of the community is not improved by a private conflict becoming public.

4. If you witness something suspicious, dangerous, or out of the ordinary, contact an official that can deal with the problem FIRST. Then, if it benefits the community, post it on Facebook.

For example, if you witness a suspicious person with a bag of burglar tools, CALL THE STATE POLICE FIRST. Then, post on Facebook.

If you see water shooting out of a neighbor’s house, CALL THE NEIGHBOR, TIDEWATER, AND/ OR THE OFFICE FIRST. Then post on Facebook, if necessary.

5. We encourage residents to utilize the Facebook Group as a “neighborhood marketplace” - i.e., offering household items for free/sale, recommending service folks you have used, or alerting neighbors to local deals. However, please no business advertising, internet promotions, or SPAM.

Examples: “Flowerpots for free at #9,” “Bob, the Builder, did a great job with my windows. Here is his #” and “I just got a great deal on potatoes at XYZ store” are all acceptable. “I’m Fast Eddie, buy your used car from me” is not acceptable.

6. Personal posts - for instance, political, religious, personal opinions - should be posted on your PRIVATE Facebook page, not on the Aspen Meadows Facebook Group page. And for the safety and security of your neighbors, do not share or screenshot posts or comments from the Aspen Meadows Facebook to your private account.

Remember, only post on Aspen Meadows Facebook what is meaningful to the group.

7. Avoid posting your personal information, like phone numbers or full address, on the Aspen Meadows Facebook, and, it goes without saying to not post your neighbor’s personal information.

While we have made every effort to keep the Aspen Meadows Facebook Group a private group, it is possible that any info that is posted online could be shared outside the group. 

Our goal is to keep our Aspen Meadows Facebook Group a useful and welcoming communication tool. If we all adhere to these guidelines, we can continue to do so. Remember, before you post or comment, ask yourself: Will this post or comment be meaningful to or benefit the Aspen Meadows community?

Lot Rent Transfers - Sale of Home/Passing Lot Rent to Beneficiary

Below is a list of steps to take to ensure properly transferring the Seller’s existing lot rent to the established Buyer:

Step 1: Intent to Sell - Notify Management (Not required but a courtesy)

Step 2: Seller’s Notification - Seller must notify management in writing (not email and strongly encouraging registered mail) at least three (3) weeks before the scheduled sale. This notification is required once the Seller and Buyer have agreed to terms of the sale. The notification must include the name and address of the Buyer as well as agreed sale price and terms. Failure to provide proper notification is grounds for termination of the Seller’s lease.

Step 3: The Seller’s notice triggers management’s right to purchase the home at a price one percent (1% ) greater than the contract price and under the same terms at which the Seller was going to sell the home to the Buyer. Management must notify Seller within five (5) business days if it intends to exercise this right. Settlement must occur within fourteen (14) days of management’s notice to Seller. Certain transfers are exempt from management’s right to purchase, such as foreclosure sales and transfer to family members.

Step 4: Buyer’s Application for Residence - Management may require a Buyer to complete an application package and must evaluate the Buyer using the same criteria that is used for all potential tenants. Management must provide written notice to Buyer whether approved or rejected within 15 days. If rejected, management must provide Buyer with the specific eligibility requirement not met and the grounds for rejection.

Step 5: Seller’s Decision Whether to Transfer Lease - If the Buyer is accepted by management and if the home meets management’s standards for retention in the community then the Seller has the choice to transfer the existing lease to the Buyer or to terminate the lease and have Buyer enter a new lease with management. The Buyer and management are bound by the Seller’s decision. Nothing in the law prohibits a Buyer from making the transfer of the existing lease a condition of the agreement to purchase the home from the Seller, but the Buyer has no right to demand that management transfer the existing lease if the Seller does not elect to transfer it.

Step 6: Buyer’s Lease after the Sale of the Home: If the Seller does not transfer the existing lease to the Buyer, the Buyer must enter a new lease and is treated identically to any other new tenant. If the Seller transfers the existing lease to the Buyer, management must execute the transfer. Thereafter, the Buyer has all the same rights the Seller would have had if the Seller had not sold the home. The rent and date of lease renewal are the same. Management cannot require Buyer to sign a new lease at the expiration of lease of term because management would not have required the Seller to sign a new lease if the Seller had not sold the home.

Note: The above is listed in the Aspen Meadows lease agreements and became law in the sate of Delaware in 2018. Ten (10) Year leases are in ineligible

Death of A Resident - Passing Existing Lot Rent to Heir/Beneficiary: To pass the current lot rent at the time of death, a beneficiary must be on the home title and have approved background check by ELS as an occupant of the home on the rental agreement. 

Sussex County Building Permits & ELS Structures & Enhancements Form

Please find in the links below, the Sussex County Permit Requirements as well as the ELS (Aspen Meadows) Structures & Enhancements Form that needs to be completed and submitted to the management office for review and approval prior to the start of any home improvement projects.