30 People Share Their Absolute Worst Homeowner Association Stories

Bored Panda managed to get in touch with the person who sparked this conversation on the platform, Redditor Glam_SpaceTime, who was kind enough to have a little chat with us about the topic. When asked what inspired them to start this discussion, they told us, "I was watching AttorneyTom, who said there are specialized attorneys in HOAs. I come from the Netherlands, where only apartment complexes have HOAs (called VvE). I was just curious if HOAs are that bad." And guessing from the deluge of responses to their question, the answer is crystal clear.

But Glam_SpaceTime revealed they were surprised to see the thread blow up as much as it did. The amount of attention to their post made it obvious how deeply it resonated with the community members. "Based on the replies, I think people reacted to show their frustration," the Redditor added.

The examples in this thread prove that some rules and restrictions HOAs impose on their residents seem absurd. With strict guidelines on noise, parking, walls, fences, painting, landscaping, tenants, garage storage, new construction, repairs, remodeling — literally just about anything — many Americans feel frustrated when these organizations go too far.

"I was shocked at first, just how bad those rules are," Glam_SpaceTime said. "One HOA president commented it was mostly about how the neighborhood looks and property value. He has a point about how you maintain the garden, but the rules described in the comments are just crazy. I don’t see how hanging a plant can lead to a lower property value. For me, rules like this would cause unnecessary stress," they added.

If you have never lived in a neighborhood with an HOA, you may not be aware of the stigma that surrounds these organizations. But if you ask anyone whose home is a part of one, you're bound to hear about at least one problematic encounter. See, while some people value that their HOA takes care of their community, others lament their excessive fees, poor management, and unnecessary list of rules. An HOA neighborhood can be a haven to some, while others will jump at the opportunity to move out.

As of 2021, community associations are home to more than 73 million Americans and represent nearly a quarter of the housing stock in the country. Moreover, new associations are forming every day and are expected to increase by 4,500 this year alone. But when it comes to how they are perceived by the residents, it reminds us of a rocky love-hate relationship.

A survey by InsuranceQuates.com questioned over 600 people from various demographics and found that how they feel about their HOA depends on their generation. Interestingly, baby boomers were the most likely to say they love their association, while Gen Xers were the ones who hate them most. This could be explained by the fact that baby boomers are gradually reaching retirement age, so they are keen on living in a peaceful and well-maintained environment.

Moreover, feelings toward HOA were also influenced by whether the respondents had ever served on the board. Out of current and former HOA board members, 57% reported loving their organization. What’s more, 75% of these participants revealed that their HOA fees were worth it.

The researchers found that board membership is key for residents to see the value in their HOA as it allows them to take a peek behind the scenes and be a part of the community's decisions. "Studies show that most of us don’t like being told what to do, so being a part of the decision-making process might just make the HOA policies more palatable," they wrote.

Of course, certain decisions don’t sit well with some people. A 2015 survey by the Coalition for Community Housing Policy in the Public Interest revealed that more than two-thirds of people surveyed had been involved in a significant dispute with their association, and 60% of those disputes remained unresolved. What this means is that if you live in an HOA, it’s only a matter of time before you find yourself in a disagreement with one.

Finicky rules are often at the center of HOA-homeowner tensions, which can make residents feel like they’re perpetually under a short leash. The good news is that when people are dissatisfied with the organization, there are several ways they can attempt to resolve the issue. While it’s rare to get rid of an HOA as it is a lengthy and expensive process, homeowners can figure out the problem and find ways to tackle it so the organization can operate properly.

Ursula Burgess, President, Board of Trustees for the Community Associations Institute, told HomeLight that when it comes to the idea that the HOA "needs to go", it usually boils down to two issues. "Either the current make-up of the board is less than ideal, or there’s a question of maintenance issues within the community, and people don’t want to pay," Burgess said.

Sometimes, a problematic HOA situation can be fixed for the better by removing a board member who might be causing the issues. "The good news is that there is generally a mechanism that allows for members to vote out board members." And in many cases, this will allow people to step up and replace that same board member, so Burgess advised: "I tell people all the time, if someone is very vocal in a board meeting and we have a vacancy, they should appoint that person. Let them take the energy and concern they have and use it for the betterment of the association."