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HOA:
Post your HOA horror stories here
- Thread starter Donald
- Start date
My particular HOA is minimal, which is the way I like it.
We are at the sufferance of the officers though. A couple of changes in personality and it’s a very different place.
There’s an HOA in metro Phoenix, “Ahwatukee” which is just notorious. They actually made it a violation of the covenants to bad-mouth the officers of the HOA.
I know of a new housing development where they were supposed to have 24 hr. security as part of their dues. They quickly decided that that was too expensive, so they hired a professional HOA management company instead.
So now they pay dues to have these guys come around and hassle them on every little thing instead.
We are at the sufferance of the officers though. A couple of changes in personality and it’s a very different place.
There’s an HOA in metro Phoenix, “Ahwatukee” which is just notorious. They actually made it a violation of the covenants to bad-mouth the officers of the HOA.
I know of a new housing development where they were supposed to have 24 hr. security as part of their dues. They quickly decided that that was too expensive, so they hired a professional HOA management company instead.
So now they pay dues to have these guys come around and hassle them on every little thing instead.
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I got two stories, same HOA.
We had at the time three elderly 90+yo men who liked to walk the paths around the neighborhood. In the winter, while shoveling my sidewalk in the "required" 24 hours I would shovel the communal path next to my house. Boom, HOA nastygram. I was creating a dangerous situation. Now for those who live in the intermountain west knows that after it snows, the sun comes out. It will all melt fast most of the time, but if you shovel it, it's dry within hours. But sometimes the water would re-freeze at night. I asked the old guys what they wanted me to do, they were so happy I shoveled so I kept on doing it. The HOA never shoveled the walks ever.
Same suburban neighborhood. The last year, 5 families form California moved in. Early that winter we had a hard freeze, well below 0* at night. Yes, all their pipes froze and burst. The five families got together and sued the HOA for not letting them know they had to let the water drip to keep it from freezing. They won too, HOA dues doubled because of it. Thankfully we were moving anyhow.
We had at the time three elderly 90+yo men who liked to walk the paths around the neighborhood. In the winter, while shoveling my sidewalk in the "required" 24 hours I would shovel the communal path next to my house. Boom, HOA nastygram. I was creating a dangerous situation. Now for those who live in the intermountain west knows that after it snows, the sun comes out. It will all melt fast most of the time, but if you shovel it, it's dry within hours. But sometimes the water would re-freeze at night. I asked the old guys what they wanted me to do, they were so happy I shoveled so I kept on doing it. The HOA never shoveled the walks ever.
Same suburban neighborhood. The last year, 5 families form California moved in. Early that winter we had a hard freeze, well below 0* at night. Yes, all their pipes froze and burst. The five families got together and sued the HOA for not letting them know they had to let the water drip to keep it from freezing. They won too, HOA dues doubled because of it. Thankfully we were moving anyhow.
The saga continues. The warning letter we got from the HOA Board was not signed. It mentioned dog not on a leash and dog noise. Wife responded and asked for a copy of the HOA Board minutes and the time/date and name of person who complained. They provided the board meeting minutes but would not provide the time/date and name of person who complained. The board minutes mention the dog not on a leash but no mention of dog noise. But the letters mentions dog noise.
We have told them we cannot accept the warning letter because of the reasons I mentioned.
And I changed out a faulty circuit breaker for the water pump for the pond. The board was not happy and now has said they only want qualified electrician. They had a qualified electrician last year and he bypassed the fountain pump current limiter so if the fountain pump jammed it would likely burn out the fountain pump. Good job.
We have told them we cannot accept the warning letter because of the reasons I mentioned.
And I changed out a faulty circuit breaker for the water pump for the pond. The board was not happy and now has said they only want qualified electrician. They had a qualified electrician last year and he bypassed the fountain pump current limiter so if the fountain pump jammed it would likely burn out the fountain pump. Good job.
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Just some spineless coward.
If I join an HOA, lawn maintenance and snow removal will be included. I'm looking forward to external yard work being one less thing to worry about.
If I was on the board, I wouldn't want a random resident changing out circuit breakers, either.
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Get ready for a fight. (*about the dog. They have only their own people change facility maintenance. Even if they are sub-par.)
Be prepared for a fight about your dog and his activities, you'll be surprised what they can do once you are "targeted." HOA will have basically unlimited resources to come at you, including general noise violations, fire code violations, maybe the ASPCA, buckle up because if you're not prepared they will run you off. They will give you a fight if you want one. I've been half following about the activities of your dog butt seems like they're going to have their quota of activity with you and not other people.
I too have skimmed over all your posts. I have no idea why you choose to live in a community and not want to abide by the community rules.
No leash on your dog? Sorry but that is inexcusable. Drives us crazy if some dog comes charging out at us while walking our dog, its dangerous for me and my wife as we have to pick our dog up, this would put us between our dog and an attacking dog. I tell my wife if one ever got close enough or threatened me, my wife or my dog it would get full force kicks or whatever it takes. This would be the owners fault sadly if the dog got seriously injured. On top of it our dog is blind and would not be able to defend itself.
Yet that isnt a problem in our community, people keep their dogs under control and we are all friendly but like anything, once in a while one may get loose but not on purpose as you do.
None of this matters, you seem bent on breaking and challenging rules, the board will win, sue all you want, you as part of the community will pay the attorney bills and you will ultimately pay all the fines.
BTW - No board and no community maintenance organizations release names of people. None of your business. In fact the organization that managers our community doesnt even release the names of people who complain to our board.
Man, you dont belong in a community, heck, even our county has regulations against unleashed dogs and dog noise at night, as well as people noise at night. I dont get it, why did you move there? You move in and all of a sudden the covenants and restrictions dont apply to you?
Our dog has been through hell and back battling an aggressive glaucoma last year, lost both his eyes, amazing animal, I now have endless videos of him leading us throughout our neighborhood, EVERYDAY including knowing somehow where the intersections are to cross, where the posts are to pee *LOL* ... plays ball with a ball that has a bell in it, full of life and plays still like a puppy, even his doctor can't believe it.
Up and down the stairs all day long between my wife's office on the second floor, 17 stairs, you would never know he doesnt have eyes. NO ONE in our close knit community knew he went blind until after we told them, no one can believe how natural he is and acts.
What I am saying it I would defend him with my life if I had too and I would feel sorry for the unleashed pet whom may threaten him or us. I would take whatever action is necessary to protect him and us. It blows my mind that you feel you can allow your dog unleashed in the community and allow your dog to be a nuisance to your neighbors with its barking and noise.
You dont stand a chance against the board but at least it will give your wife something to do I guess, ultimately you pay for it anyway, along with your neighbors.
(for other pet lovers - yes, that's an Apple Air Tag on his collar in a red protective case)
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Love my HOA. 40 houses. Keeps grass in perfect shape with weed control, fertilizer, irrigation, and mowing. Snow removal is flawless. Architectural committee keeps things looking nice and maintaining high home resale value.
Ll
Well I volunteered to take care of the pond next to my house. I know what I am doing. The last licensed electrician did not.
Ok I do intend to follow the rules but when when I was told off the cuff by a board member that if anyone else was my neighbor I would not have the problems I am having what am I to think?
This is a very small HOA with limited resources. They cannot afford a law suit. While they have insurance to cover legal costs if they use it will get the insurance rates increased. My legal costs are free since my wife can handle all of that.
Forget about the dog without a leash. That issue is resolved. But my dog should have figured out the property boundary. One of the smartest dogs I have had. A board member (also a policeman) walks his dog to the pond every morning with no leash.
The big issue is dog noise. My dog whines at first light. I do my best to mitigate the noise by getting up when I hear him whining. So I am trying. However I expect my neighbor will complain again.
The issue I see is they added the rule about dog barking but wrote it loose so dog owners would approve the change. In doing so they made it basically unenforceable. And it mentions barking and my dog is whining/howling.
DE state law written in a loose manner also. I am told no one has ever been charged with breaking that law.
I should also say at first light when I go out to walk the dogs there is a lot of of loud bird chirping going on.
This is a very small HOA with limited resources. They cannot afford a law suit. While they have insurance to cover legal costs if they use it will get the insurance rates increased. My legal costs are free since my wife can handle all of that.
Forget about the dog without a leash. That issue is resolved. But my dog should have figured out the property boundary. One of the smartest dogs I have had. A board member (also a policeman) walks his dog to the pond every morning with no leash.
The big issue is dog noise. My dog whines at first light. I do my best to mitigate the noise by getting up when I hear him whining. So I am trying. However I expect my neighbor will complain again.
The issue I see is they added the rule about dog barking but wrote it loose so dog owners would approve the change. In doing so they made it basically unenforceable. And it mentions barking and my dog is whining/howling.
DE state law written in a loose manner also. I am told no one has ever been charged with breaking that law.
I should also say at first light when I go out to walk the dogs there is a lot of of loud bird chirping going on.
The HOA doesnt get increased insurance rates. The homeowners do. The homeowners (including you) are the HOA. (so yes technically the HOA gets the increased rates that you pay since you are the HOA.
Any lawsuit the HOA loses you and the other homeowners pay as you and the other homeowners are the HOA.
Any increased insurance to cover legal costs are paid by you and the other homeowners, not to repeat myself but you and the other homeowners are the HOA.
Peace ...
Was that offer accepted? The care of common areas is actually a legitimate task for a HOA to have complete and total control. They're expected to.
Voluntary caretaking might include picking up sticks, litter, and dog poop. Even then do not proceed without specific instructions such as how to dispose of those things. From an earlier post they didn't like you moving sticks to a certain place, and that is totally within their rights. Don't do anything in the common areas that you don't have direct permission for. Don't go out and mow or prune anything, and certainly don't touch the electrical systems. They hire people for that.
And you should report the neighbor who takes his dog out without a leash. That someone else is breaking the rules doesn't mean you can break the rules.
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The person taking his dog out not on a leash is on the board. He knows the rules and was part of the discussion when the board talked about my dog. His dog is calmer and my dog is bossy.
Actually they asked if I would take care of pond next to my house.
They were fine last year when I worked on the pond electric after licensed electrician screwed it up. One new board member now (president) however.
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Just had a neighbor, rolled up on me like they were the cops while I was cleaning/detailing my car. Asked me, "Hey, who was that in the Expedition that was parked here yesterday?"
Now, mind you, that was my sister, was here about 10 minutes...
Then wanted to know who I was...
Black Jeep, yes, that's you.
Just normal life in an HOA...
Now, this is a reality called BITOG, first one that defends that business gets a prize.
I'd say, that is just straight up nosiness .
Now, mind you, that was my sister, was here about 10 minutes...
Then wanted to know who I was...
Black Jeep, yes, that's you.
Just normal life in an HOA...
Now, this is a reality called BITOG, first one that defends that business gets a prize.
I'd say, that is just straight up nosiness .
I would have told them a 9 person homeless family. Now living in my side yard. The back is occupied with Guatemalans.
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Well. I'll share here what happened.. I let it slip, just trying to make good conversation, "Yeah, that was my sister. She just showed up. Out of nowhere." And that was the honest truth. I then continued to WD-40 clean my custom plate, it has its first discoloration. Oh well.
It was then, the guy legit asked who I was.. and I just looked at him like. Dude...
....... methinks he may be the complainer in the neighborhood. Just an odd encounter that anyone here would have told to go somewhere.
I'm wondering what I had to do with it.. mr. Po Po neighbor even rode up driver side of Jeep to wrong side of street to ask me these things. As far as I'm concerned, I was harrassed for being seen while cleaning my car. They say you aren't supposed to use paper towels, even wet ones.
Just a nosy person, I don't know anything else that could be called. I didnt answer his second question. I didnt have to answer the first but.. that whole "I will try to be less of a jerk today" thing..
