Post your HOA horror stories here

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

My main takeaway from this thread, I see it back and forth now, is that the blanket statement cannot hold true in all situations. For example, as an illustration. I could say something like, Everyone from Massachusetts drives like a jerk. And most people that are on the road in surrounding areas may chime in and maybe think that is true, or a large percentage.

The truth is, personal biases play a part, and if you observe a large number of people with that particular orientation maybe speeding, maybe merging into lanes close to other drivers.. whatever you deem driving like a jerk to be, you would be most inclined to agree with the statement.

Now, if someone that resides and is in Massachusetts every day, has no tickets, is generally maybe a law abiding citizen and even if not, just does not drive aggressively and has never had a problem.. they would go to the ends of the earth to make sure that statement gets contradicted.

Or, like another blanket statement, maybe All GM vehicles are garbage. Obviously not the case, but, maybe a quick like, see above examples about who has what GM, etc.

Now, back to HOAs. Your bias will largely dictate which side of the fence you fall on.

I see some fervent HOA defenders, let's say pro-HOA, and that is fine.

We have seemingly a touch more that say, HOA. Never again, things are worse with the management and structure, unequal imposition of rules, etc etc. I will say, that, someone mentioned board members are not compensated or paid. I would have to say, as well as ask if that is true.. that, the assignment of power to an individual that so desires it, no monies would ever be needed.

In conclusion: There isn't a blanket statement that can hold true, I fall on the side of the fence of HOAs being more bad than good, if you live in a good HOA then good for you, and I can agree that moving is not easy for most people.

But it can be done.

That is all I got on this one.

 

[Donald]

So neighbor has a camera spying on me in my backyard saying I am picking up sticks from my back yard tossing them in the swale behind my house. In reality I pick up sticks from around the common area pond and toss them in a rough area behind the pond. An area they purposely want to remain rough.

The more BS complaints I hear they less inclined I am to be concerned about how early my dog makes noise in the morning.

 

[greenjp]

...Over a decade you're paying someone $30k to supervise you and your neighbors to make sure things that tend to get done anyway (mowed grass, cars fixed, houses painted) get done a certain way and on a certain timeframe....
Neighborhood could literally just pool it's money, and accomplish basic services (lawncare contracts) with no busy-body HOA personnel overhead, nasty letters, etc.

I can't speak for all HOAs, only mine, but the enforcement/nanny stuff is literally the least of the duties, and to the extent it even gets done there's no cost associated with it. It's done by volunteers. The actual work of the HOA is in the maintenance of the property, contract management (trash pickup, landscaping, snow removal, pool operation & maintenance, etc), keeping our 6 playgrounds maintained, paying for stuff like the electricity for the streetlights, and maintaining a reserve fund for periodic maintenance and replacement expenses. And of course dealing legal matters, the association's taxes, etc. Our budget this year was about $760k and zero of it went to covenant and architectural guideline enforcement.

Now, you propose that a neighborhood could "just pool it's money" and do all that stuff. I mean I guess that might work if you've got some small group of like minded people who just naturally agree on everything? Ain't gonna work in a development with hundreds of homes - you'll have disagreements, indifference, etc. It almost seems like in that situation, perhaps establishing an organization, a "homeowner's association" you might call it, to set the basic rules, develop a budget, and manage all that stuff might be a good idea?

jeff

 

[aquariuscsm]

So neighbor has a camera spying on me in my backyard

You need to walk out there naked Give her a good show

 

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

You need to walk out there naked Give her a good show

That's playing right into their hands.

It's a trap!

 

[Donald]

You need to walk out there naked Give her a good show

It's two guys who live there.

 

[Skippy722]

It's two guys who live there.

If I were a gambling man, I’d wager they’d move that camera in a real hurry Throw in a good scratch and nose pick for good measure!

 

[Pablo]

If I were a gambling man, I’d wager they’d move that camera in a real hurry Throw in a good scratch and nose pick for good measure!

Two GUYS.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm...........maybe NOT! Yikes.

So neighbor has a camera spying on me in my backyard

Serious note. Is that even legal?

 

[aquariuscsm]

It's two guys who live there.

Ignore my suggestion. Oh lord do not walk out there naked!

 

[RDY4WAR]

I love my personal freedoms. Specifically I want to be free to enjoy my home without looking at junk cars, 40-year-old Winnebagos, blue roof tarps, chain link fences, and barnyard animals. I want to be free of neighbors who don't share my values on these and other things. I am free to live in an HOA, just as others are free not to.

Do you people actually think that is the norm in a non-HOA neighborhood?

Typical elitist HOA mindset.

 

[Schandyman]

What I don't understand is why a HOA would want to dictate the slope of your roof

Big guy just looks like he wants a warm couch or dog bed and some love. My HOA said our flower bed rocks were too large. The HOA handbook doesn't have a physical size or color of rock so don't know what was up their arse. But problem solved once they saw there was no text backing their too large

 

[RDY4WAR]

I can't speak for all HOAs, only mine, but the enforcement/nanny stuff is literally the least of the duties, and to the extent it even gets done there's no cost associated with it. It's done by volunteers. The actual work of the HOA is in the maintenance of the property, contract management (trash pickup, landscaping, snow removal, pool operation & maintenance, etc), keeping our 6 playgrounds maintained, paying for stuff like the electricity for the streetlights, and maintaining a reserve fund for periodic maintenance and replacement expenses. And of course dealing legal matters, the association's taxes, etc. Our budget this year was about $760k and zero of it went to covenant and architectural guideline enforcement.

Now, you propose that a neighborhood could "just pool it's money" and do all that stuff. I mean I guess that might work if you've got some small group of like minded people who just naturally agree on everything? Ain't gonna work in a development with hundreds of homes - you'll have disagreements, indifference, etc. It almost seems like in that situation, perhaps establishing an organization, a "homeowner's association" you might call it, to set the basic rules, develop a budget, and manage all that stuff might be a good idea?

jeff

What you described about crowded sub-divisions having disagreements and contradictions is why I don't live in a crowded sub-division. The point of the HOA being to create equal living conditions and value for every resident. In this view, an HOA is essentially socialism on a smaller scale. It's a pipe dream, of course, as you will never, ever truly have equality in anything. There's always going to be that one house who's grass isn't as green and kept as the rest, roof that isn't as new, driveway that isn't as clean and oil drop free, etc... Just like everything else in life, you will always have those rich in love and those poor in love, rich in beauty and poor in beauty, rich in intelligence and poor in intelligence, etc... Therefore, an HOA is always going to have conflict, disagreement, contradiction, and hypocrisy.

I had to call a buddy to remember the details of his experience with an HOA in Florida. He claimed he was discriminated against by an HOA after they declined his application to purchase a home in the HOA. After asking around, a different realtor told him that he was never going to get approved to live in that neighborhood. When he asked why, the realtor responded "because you're black." Every household in the HOA is white, and they automatically deny PoC, though finding some other reason to deny them to get around discrimination laws. Their reason for denying him was because he's in the military and thus could be deployed at any moment which is too volatile a situation for their community. Yeah.... complete BS, but that was their excuse. To note, there were at least 2 military families in that HOA already. The realtor told him that a couple people have tried suing that HOA over discrimination, but there's always been insufficient evidence to move forward with legal matters.

 

[brianl703]

The neighborhood I used to live in, in Elmhurst, IL, moved away in 1988, I went back over the summer.. I found that it looks better than it ever has before. NO HOA.

Meanwhile, I can point to numerous HOA neighborhoods in this area (Northern Virginia) that look awful and continue to go downhill.

Maybe, just maybe, it's not so much the presence of an HOA or not...but the people that live there?

 

[Dave Sherman]

The only rule I thought was particularly silly in the HOA I lived in was the rule that you were limited to two cats, or 1 dog and 1 cat, but not more than 1 dog. Stated that they would take legal action to enforce it, too. I had missed that rule when I first looked through the bylaws, it was when they mentioned that rule in one of our monthly newsletters - which happened to be shortly after I took in a third cat that had special needs. Whoops. Mine were strictly indoor cats. Now I can understand if they don't want a crazy cat lady with a hoarde of cats roaming around outside, but jeez, it's my house, it's none of their business how many cats I have inside. My neighbor would cat sit for me when I was away, when I mentioned I was breaking the rules, he laughed and thought it was ridiculous too, he didn't know about it either. He just agreed to keep my contraband third cat under wraps if he happened to know any board members.

 

[Donald]

Neighbor called dog warden a second time. Got a $82 ticket. My dog was on my property but went over to sniff him, he said he was a dog person. (Well thats BS).

I will contest the ticket. Neighbor will have to come to court if he wants to press it.

 

[Donald]

So the latest drama is I received a certified letter from HOA board stating I am in violation as I had my dog off my property with no leash and she went over to neighbor to sniff him. And barking of my dogs.

So I can resolve the dog outside not on a leash.

So my wife is an attorney who specializes in litigation. She will respond asking for the name of the attorney who represents the HOA board. Board has no attorney on retainer so this will cost legal fees on a per hour basis. Then go on to tear apart the rule on dog noise as arbitrary and unenforceable. And it specifically says barking. My dog whines and howls at first light. No barking unless someone in knocks at the door. Dogs bark and howl for different reasons.

Lastly if all else fails it would cost $1200/year in fines to ignore what the board says about me being in violation about dog walking. My dog is totally worth it and it's cheaper than hiring an attorney if my wife was not an attorney.

 

[spasm3]

So the latest drama is I received a certified letter from HOA board stating I am in violation as I had my dog off my property with no leash and she went over to neighbor to sniff him. And barking of my dogs.

So I can resolve the dog outside not on a leash.

So my wife is an attorney who specializes in litigation. She will respond asking for the name of the attorney who represents the HOA board. Board has no attorney on retainer so this will cost legal fees on a per hour basis. Then go on to tear apart the rule on dog noise as arbitrary and unenforceable. And it specifically says barking. My dog whines and howls at first light. No barking unless someone in knocks at the door. Dogs bark and howl for different reasons.

Lastly if all else fails it would cost $1200/year in fines to ignore what the board says about me being in violation about dog walking. My dog is totally worth it and it's cheaper than hiring an attorney if my wife was not an attorney.

How do most of your neighbors feel about the HOA? Perhaps you should throw a few cookouts, get chummy with many neighbors and vote the current HOA staff out. Rewrite the rules.

 

[mk378]

So I can resolve the dog outside not on a leash.

What the heck does that sentence even mean? Sounds like something GHT would write to rationalize stupid and/or illegal behavior.

If it is only now that you realize it's in your best interest to have your dog on a leash any time he's outside in this neighborhood, you're a bit behind the curve.

And trying to argue whether the noise your dog makes to wake up the neighbors at dawn is technically a "howl" not a "bark" is the sort of thing that would make Perry Mason face-palm.

 

[Donald]

What the heck does that sentence even mean? Sounds like something GHT would write to rationalize stupid and/or illegal behavior.

If it is only now that you realize it's in your best interest to have your dog on a leash any time he's outside in this neighborhood, you're a bit behind the curve.

And trying to argue whether the noise your dog makes to wake up the neighbors at dawn is technically a "howl" not a "bark" is the sort of thing that would make Perry Mason face-palm.

My smaller dog is very smart and for the most part would stay near me when I was outside. But chasing a squirrel could get her to run into a neighbor's yard. But if need be I can make sure she is always on a leash.

The rule about dog barking is something like "excessive dog barking that can be heard from a neighbors property is not allowed". To me on several levels that seems arbitrary and unenforceable. It's poorly written. Better written noise ordinances state duration of dog barking, mention dog barking or noise, time of day, day of the week. Some may mention sound level in dB.

Attorneys who litigate analyze every word. You cannot write a HOA rule that's not clear and say well that's what we mean.

Quite honestly my wife being retired is missing doing litigation and she will enjoy it.

 

[aquariuscsm]

The only rule I thought was particularly silly in the HOA I lived in was the rule that you were limited to two cats, or 1 dog and 1 cat, but not more than 1 dog. Stated that they would take legal action to enforce it, too. I had missed that rule when I first looked through the bylaws, it was when they mentioned that rule in one of our monthly newsletters - which happened to be shortly after I took in a third cat that had special needs. Whoops. Mine were strictly indoor cats. Now I can understand if they don't want a crazy cat lady with a hoarde of cats roaming around outside, but jeez, it's my house, it's none of their business how many cats I have inside. My neighbor would cat sit for me when I was away, when I mentioned I was breaking the rules, he laughed and thought it was ridiculous too, he didn't know about it either. He just agreed to keep my contraband third cat under wraps if he happened to know any board members.

Wonder how they feel about having a huge Burmese Python?