A Tennessee family says their homeowners’ association threatened them with fines for keeping a generator running to heat their home—while the entire neighborhood froze in darkness during a brutal cold snap.
Talia Caravello says she was told her generator violated the townhouse aesthetic rules in Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood—just as she was left powerless during Sunday’s brutal ice storm, WSMV reports.
Caravello spent $1,500 on a generator, extension cords, and space heaters to keep her family warm as indoor temperatures plunged to 30 degrees in the aftermath of a storm that claimed four lives.
“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.”
Source: WSMV 4 Nashville
Talia Caravello says she was told her generator didn’t meet the aesthetic rules for her townhouse in Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood. WSMV 4 Nashville/YouTube
Caravello says she bought the generator so her family could stay home rather than seek shelter elsewhere during the blackout.
The generator was reportedly set up on the family’s porch, with cords snaking through the door to power space heaters—just enough to make staying inside bearable.
Caravello had only run her generator for a few hours when she got a chilling message from her 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.
Caravello spent $1,500 on a generator, extension cords, and space heaters to keep her family warm as indoor temperatures plunged to 30 degrees in the aftermath of a storm that claimed four lives. WSMV 4 Nashville/YouTube
The property management company says it noticed the generator during a townhome inspection amid the blackout and warned Caravello she could face fines if it wasn’t 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.
The company manages more than 400 communities and 25,000 homes across Middle and East Tennessee.
Founded in 2009, the company also emphasized in the letter the "urgency and importance of maintaining the quality appearance of all homes" in the complex.
A frustrated Caravello lashed out at the HOA over the aesthetic rules cited 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.
The generator was reportedly placed on the family’s porch, with cords running through the door to power space heaters—just enough to make staying inside bearable. WSMV 4 Nashville/YouTube
A frustrated Caravello slammed the HOA for citing aesthetic rules in their warning. WSMV 4 Nashville/YouTube
Caravello lit candles and left faucets running to keep them from freezing, but eventually her family packed up and headed 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 facing pressure over the letter sent to Caravello, Metropolitan Properties backtracked, granting a "one-time" exemption for her generator until power was restored.
More than 57,000 Nashville residents remain without power after Winter Storm Fern slammed the city with up to two inches of ice between Jan. 25 and Jan. 26, Nashville Electric Services reports.
NES has not provided a timeline for restoring power across the city, leaving more than 250,000 customers in the dark after the deadly storm.
