A homeowner association (HOA) is an organization that governs a housing community, collects dues, and sets rules for its residents.
Depending on the neighborhood, it might: maintain common areas such as lobbies or street corners, remove snow from common roads and parking lots, look after local parks, and staff pools and gyms.
But some also test the very limits of your patience and sometimes even sanity, like issuing a warning because your garden gnome is two inches too tall or a fine because your mailbox is the wrong shade of beige.
So, Reddit user ScallionWarm7975 asked others on the platform to share their absolute worst HOA experiences and the fallout that followed. Turns out, there's no shortage of those!
#1
I had a larger corner lot with a gravel front yard (SW desert).
I would spend time every weekend pulling any new weeds that I saw.
I'd still get a letter every couple of weeks saying I had weeds in my yard. One of the HOA board members lived across the street from me. I'd go outside after receiving the letter and search and search for my alleged weeds.
He'd come outside with his wife and stare at me. Both were in their late 70's.
I just got to the point where I'd just go outside and pretend to pull weeds while they watched me.
I regularly went hiking in the desert and went to parks a lot. I started collecting seeds from wild weeds and would drop them in his yard every time I'd walk my dog past his yard. It quickly became covered in weeds.
I made a few complaints about the weeds in his yard to the HOA.
My letters about weeds stopped.
I would spend time every weekend pulling any new weeds that I saw.
I'd still get a letter every couple of weeks saying I had weeds in my yard. One of the HOA board members lived across the street from me. I'd go outside after receiving the letter and search and search for my alleged weeds.
He'd come outside with his wife and stare at me. Both were in their late 70's.
I just got to the point where I'd just go outside and pretend to pull weeds while they watched me.
I regularly went hiking in the desert and went to parks a lot. I started collecting seeds from wild weeds and would drop them in his yard every time I'd walk my dog past his yard. It quickly became covered in weeds.
I made a few complaints about the weeds in his yard to the HOA.
My letters about weeds stopped.
126points
We got in touch with the author of the post, and they said the idea for it came out of a desire to check whether their experience was out of the ordinary or not. (In case you missed it, scroll back up to the image in the introduction to this list.)
"I wanted to know if my experience was the only one of this kind," ScallionWarm7975 told Bored Panda. Well, after they received a few hundred replies of similar nature, I think it's safe to say it wasn't!
#2
My coworker lives in a condo complex. She lives in an end unit, that is a 2 story townhome. She decided to remodel her condo with professional contractors. She changed the layout of the kitchen and moved the outside sliding glass door to her side yard about 6 feet to accommodate her upgrades. The outside of the building where the door was, was re-stuccoed and painted and you could not tell this had been changed. They did a great job.
Her HOA found out she moved the door and told her she had to move it back.
She started a lawsuit against the HOA and it was taking months. Then she had an idea. The election for HOA president was coming up ... She got herself on the ballot.
She introduced herself to all her neighbors, and brought up several instances where condo owners were punished for dumb reasons. It seems her neighbors were fed up with the nonsense too.
She is now the HOA president, and no longer has to undo her construction.
Her HOA found out she moved the door and told her she had to move it back.
She started a lawsuit against the HOA and it was taking months. Then she had an idea. The election for HOA president was coming up ... She got herself on the ballot.
She introduced herself to all her neighbors, and brought up several instances where condo owners were punished for dumb reasons. It seems her neighbors were fed up with the nonsense too.
She is now the HOA president, and no longer has to undo her construction.
Report
120points
#3
My adopted mom died suddenly & tragically. 4 days after she died I was at the house in the garage searching for her will. 2 HOA ladies, dressed in their Sunday finest come up to grief stricken me and say “I am so sorry for your loss, we all loved her. Please let us know how we can help. By the way- the fence is stained with the wrong color & you need to take care of that ASAP- the fine is $200 per day for non-compliance”.
I signed each of them up for every wacko email and phone solicitation list I could find.
I signed each of them up for every wacko email and phone solicitation list I could find.
97points
A YouGov survey from 2023 echoes this sentiment.
It found that 18% of Americans, including 27% of homeowners, currently reside in a community governed by an HOA, however, most (61%) would prefer to live in a place without one.
Just 35% of the people currently living in an HOA-governed neighborhood say they prefer to live in one, while 49% say they would prefer not to.
#4
Live next to HOA constantly get letters about how my property is deplorable and bla bla bla. I have a farm. I run a sawmill also. So, I finally get fed up with them. As they start coming on property, they are trying to take pictures. Had them trespassed after confronting them and asking them to leave they did not. I had drawn my firearm as they continued towards me screaming. BIOSECURITY is a real thing. Needless to say around 70+ Tons of manure now sits within feet of that property line. Keeps the high dollar snobs that hate me away. Oh and I have implemented maintenance Monday. At 10pm I start all equipment to check and service it as needed. I am zoned Ag. Have a Farm number. They have kinda started backing down. I also installed air cannons for pest deterrent. It's amazing to hear them go off in the middle of the night. Yes I am very petty. No I will never live in an hoa.
Report
90points
#5
My HOA sent me a letter telling me that I needed to have a background check on the person living in my condo with me.
I was single and living by myself. My current boyfriend brought me a mattress that he had in his guest room. He was turning into a workout area and didn't need the mattress anymore. He drove it over to my place and helped get it into my condo. I'm sure it didn't help that he drove a bright red Hummer. There were no boxes of stuff, just a mattress.
A week later the letter arrived. I called the condo association and asked why I had received this letter. I was told that someone had called and said I had someone move in. No one called me to ask. My next-door neighbor is on the condo board.
I went to the next condo association meeting and chewed them out. Asked them why we were paying for the association if they weren't going to do their due diligence. I know it's not much, but it made me feel better.
I was single and living by myself. My current boyfriend brought me a mattress that he had in his guest room. He was turning into a workout area and didn't need the mattress anymore. He drove it over to my place and helped get it into my condo. I'm sure it didn't help that he drove a bright red Hummer. There were no boxes of stuff, just a mattress.
A week later the letter arrived. I called the condo association and asked why I had received this letter. I was told that someone had called and said I had someone move in. No one called me to ask. My next-door neighbor is on the condo board.
I went to the next condo association meeting and chewed them out. Asked them why we were paying for the association if they weren't going to do their due diligence. I know it's not much, but it made me feel better.
Report
74points
More Americans believe HOAs have a very or somewhat negative effect on the communities they govern (45%) than a very or somewhat positive effect (21%). Another 21% believe the effect is neutral.
People who live in HOA-governed communities have a more optimistic outlook: 47% say HOAs' effect is positive, 27% say it is negative, and 21% say it is neutral.
#6
I left my car in my driveway overnight. I had Covid and it came on very suddenly. I had to stop and take a break going from my bed into the bathroom, so I certainly didn’t feel up to moving the car into the garage. I got written up.
ETA: I sold the house but the neighbor came over to let the new owners know that they weren’t allowed to park in the driveway while they were unpacking a car as they were moving in.
The lady across the street also came storming over and got angry with my real estate agent because she felt that my listing price was too high. You could give me a free mansion in an HOA and I’d still turn it down.
ETA: I sold the house but the neighbor came over to let the new owners know that they weren’t allowed to park in the driveway while they were unpacking a car as they were moving in.
The lady across the street also came storming over and got angry with my real estate agent because she felt that my listing price was too high. You could give me a free mansion in an HOA and I’d still turn it down.
71points
#7
My condo's defacto HOA had banned pets in apartments since day one. My nosey neighbour reported me for having a dog because she could hear barking the previous evening.
I don't have a dog, my nephew and I were watching Marley and Me.
I don't have a dog, my nephew and I were watching Marley and Me.
Report
71points
HOA dissatisfaction stems from overregulation: 72% of the people living under an HOA they disapprove of say the rules and regulations set by their HOA are too restrictive.
While as many of Americans support HOAs setting rules for noise levels (64%), trash and recycling bins (50%), and parking (46%), more oppose than support HOA rules for yard signs, fences, landscaping, pet ownership, exterior paint colors, home renovations, and holiday decorations.
#8
Not My Story.
A friend of mine rents a condo in an HOA community. From her bedroom window, she can view a vast open, undeveloped piece of land outside the community's jurisdiction. It's important to note that one has to go through the HOA community to access it. It attracts the homeless. Occasionally, there are disturbances among their community, and the police have to calm things down.
One night, she hears a scream, "I'm bleeding , help!" She looks, and all hell has broken loose. She calls 911. Dispatch sends the police, EMTs, ambulance, and fire. (there may have been a bonfire)
The HOA FINES HER $250 for calling 911. They said her call caused a disturbance with all the lights and sirens and with the emergency vehicles parking in the neighborhood.
She and her awesome landlord appealed it and won. But, it took over 8 months to resolve.
A friend of mine rents a condo in an HOA community. From her bedroom window, she can view a vast open, undeveloped piece of land outside the community's jurisdiction. It's important to note that one has to go through the HOA community to access it. It attracts the homeless. Occasionally, there are disturbances among their community, and the police have to calm things down.
One night, she hears a scream, "I'm bleeding , help!" She looks, and all hell has broken loose. She calls 911. Dispatch sends the police, EMTs, ambulance, and fire. (there may have been a bonfire)
The HOA FINES HER $250 for calling 911. They said her call caused a disturbance with all the lights and sirens and with the emergency vehicles parking in the neighborhood.
She and her awesome landlord appealed it and won. But, it took over 8 months to resolve.
Report
69points
#9
My neighborhood is a small cuál de sac community that was originally built by this one older couple that had hoped their kids and families would move into the other houses they’d built, but that never happened and all their kids live out of state. For years they were the head of the HOA for this little community. Then the wife of the couple started going around complaining about BS and claiming that we were violating this HOA rule or that regulation etc. I didn’t really give a d**n until I get a fine for letting my dog sunbathe on my front porch without a leash, with a note stating that she’s too big and violates the HOA bylaws and I have to get rid of her (dog is 40 lbs wet).
So at the next HOA meeting I requested a full copy of the HOA guidelines and rules to ensure compliance. Talked with everyone else in the block about the lady too. Came to the next meeting and I had about 4 pages of violations for her home based upon the rules and another 3 pages of “false violations” she’d tried to enforce. The meeting ended up with a vote of no confidence and we ended up voting to dissolve the HOA.
Now the lady goes around complaining about this and that but we all tell her she’s the reason there’s no HOA and she’s the only one that ever complains. Best part is when the couple living next to her asked her if she’s ever considered that her behavior is precisely why none of her kids moved back home after college. The look of defeat on her face let us know that she was fully aware that was the case.
So at the next HOA meeting I requested a full copy of the HOA guidelines and rules to ensure compliance. Talked with everyone else in the block about the lady too. Came to the next meeting and I had about 4 pages of violations for her home based upon the rules and another 3 pages of “false violations” she’d tried to enforce. The meeting ended up with a vote of no confidence and we ended up voting to dissolve the HOA.
Now the lady goes around complaining about this and that but we all tell her she’s the reason there’s no HOA and she’s the only one that ever complains. Best part is when the couple living next to her asked her if she’s ever considered that her behavior is precisely why none of her kids moved back home after college. The look of defeat on her face let us know that she was fully aware that was the case.
Report
67points
The Redditor who initiated the discussion believes that so many HOAs become disappointing and dysfunctional because of their fixation on power.
"Let's be real, everyone wants power. With it, HOAs can control people and do what they want without any real consequence, so this is not a surprise to me."
ScallionWarm7975 laughed at the prospect of a good HOA. "No offense, but it's a joke," they said. "Like, yeah, I've seen one before, but it still was too strict. In my opinion, not having one is better."
#10
We tried painting the brick in front of our house, drafted a letter in compliance with the HOA rules, even told them we’d be using proper masonry painting, I went through all the engineering side of how it will be done properly, etc etc. We were denied because “nobody has ever asked to paint brick in this neighborhood before.” I told them well we’re asking. They denied our request again and reminded us that if we painted the brick a lien would be placed against the property. So we didn’t paint but we started maliciously complying. Any permanent outdoor changes have to be preapproved, so when I built a deck around a tree, I made very sure to not set it into the ground. It weighs about 500lbs so it’s not going anywhere but it’s not permanent. When they came by to b***h at us, I told them it wasn’t permanent. They said we still needed to get it approved and I asked if I would need to get approval for buying a lawn chair. They said no, and I told them that I built a custom lawn chair and would not be getting approval for anything else unless I absolutely needed to.
62points
#11
My HOA in Texas sent me a letter that told me my child's toys had to be removed from sight at the end of each day. Keep in mind... this was a ranch style development... I had 3 acres of land. I said fine. I didn't put them away. I got another letter regarding the toys (bike and such) saying they had observed them in the driveway the previous day. I replied... yep... my daughter took them out to play with them again... I'll put them away at the end of the day. I didn't. Got yet another letter saying they saw them again. I said yep. My child plays with her toys every day. And after sundown you won't see them any more. There are NO lights on my exterior. There are NO street lamps. I then got ANOTHER letter with a NIGHT VISION PHOTOGRAPH of my child's bike 200 ft down my driveway near my garage. I s**t you not.
Report
62points
#12
I got fined $300 for my motorcycle being too loud. I’ve never owned a motorcycle.
Report
59points
#13
My neighborhood president wants to be an absolute t**t about everything so we nominated and voted in the 2 people she hates the most.
56points
#14
I received a letter that I had to remove a sign from my yard - not political - when other residents had posted political signs and left the up long after the election. So I put the sign in my truck window in the driveway instead, where it could be seen from the street.
Report
55points
#15
My fake HOA believe themselves to be legitimate and once sent me a handwritten fee invoice for flying a drone, having off leash dogs, and not mowing the right of way. In reaponse I sent them a mock copy with a bunch of made up fees they owed me.
Report
55points
#16
My neighbors, who have a son w special needs, had a small inflatable kids pool. Like a 30 Dollar wal mart pool. The hoa sent them a letter about how no above ground pools are allowed. I got into it the president who is on a power trip and let him know all of his violations. Which he then told me his were pre-approved? Anyway they ended up having a special meeting and allowed them to keep the pool.
Report
49points
#17
I have some friends, who live in Texas, sane people except they won’t leave.
For those, who don’t know, Texas has four seasons just like other places and those seasons are named Summer, Summer, Summer and Hell.
Well, one day my friends had a visit from the HOA telling them that their grass was longer than the allowed one inch and they’d be fined until that was remedied.
Knowing full well that it was politically motivated nonsense my friend agreed that it was indeed a disgrace and he’d accept the fine, provided he accompanied the deputation around so they could fine every single HOA member, who had grass that was not green, since that was the other requirement pertaining to grass in that list of rulles and regulations, they were waving about.
Wouldn’t you know it, suddenly it was no biggie that his grass was a little too long, it did look much niecer being green. There hasn’t been any more issues with the HOA since they found out he flights back.
For those, who don’t know, Texas has four seasons just like other places and those seasons are named Summer, Summer, Summer and Hell.
Well, one day my friends had a visit from the HOA telling them that their grass was longer than the allowed one inch and they’d be fined until that was remedied.
Knowing full well that it was politically motivated nonsense my friend agreed that it was indeed a disgrace and he’d accept the fine, provided he accompanied the deputation around so they could fine every single HOA member, who had grass that was not green, since that was the other requirement pertaining to grass in that list of rulles and regulations, they were waving about.
Wouldn’t you know it, suddenly it was no biggie that his grass was a little too long, it did look much niecer being green. There hasn’t been any more issues with the HOA since they found out he flights back.
Report
49points
#18
We replaced a cracked hardiplank board (note the singular BOARD) and painted it the same cream as the old board. Got a note from our HOA that we should have filed for a permit.
Report
44points
#19
I often give my housekeeper clothes to donate at Mexican orphanages. One time I had two huge black garbage bags full, she took one out to her car and left it on the driveway while she went to get the other one. HOA came by and sent me a fine for leaving out garbage. Same housekeeper parked far over on my driveway to leave room for me to pull in and turn into my garage. She left half of her front and back tires off the edge of the driveway and the other half of the tires on the dirt/grass patch next to the driveway. Not a front lawn, just the edge of the driveway. Got a fine for that too. I fought it, they sent me pictures so I know what they saw and proceeded to send out flyers to all the homeowners showing the pictures and fines. Four of us got together and ran for the HOA and won.
Report
44points
#20
My roommate and I were the "young ones" in a mostly senior subdivision. As such, we drew the ire of everyone for things like "smoking meat after 9M", "laughter in general", and "having guests park...in the guest area." Fines occured on the regular.
We were often blamed for sound ordinance violations...at times we both were working night shift. The 90 y/o next to us was practically deaf and had an awesome audio system, but no one bothered to suspect him.
Anywho...
We eventually found out that the old couple across from is...the ones we constantly helped out...were the ones making all the compliants, and costing is almost of money.
A******s.
Well, in the middle of Covid they decided to sell. At the last minute their moving company pushed back the packup date. Well, they were in escrow, and this was going to cost them alot.
"Do you know anyone!?!?"
"I think I might..."
I set up a Google voice number, and had my buddy pretend to be a "mover".
And I gave these pricks said number.
My buddy set up their "move" for the last possible weekend before penalties occured.
A*****e couple canceled the other movers.
Well, the friday before said weekend, me and roomie wished them "goodbye", and went on a road trip for the weekend.
Wouldn't you know it? Those d**n movers never showed up. Weird.
Anywho they got hosed on escrow fees in the thousands.
F**k them.
We were often blamed for sound ordinance violations...at times we both were working night shift. The 90 y/o next to us was practically deaf and had an awesome audio system, but no one bothered to suspect him.
Anywho...
We eventually found out that the old couple across from is...the ones we constantly helped out...were the ones making all the compliants, and costing is almost of money.
A******s.
Well, in the middle of Covid they decided to sell. At the last minute their moving company pushed back the packup date. Well, they were in escrow, and this was going to cost them alot.
"Do you know anyone!?!?"
"I think I might..."
I set up a Google voice number, and had my buddy pretend to be a "mover".
And I gave these pricks said number.
My buddy set up their "move" for the last possible weekend before penalties occured.
A*****e couple canceled the other movers.
Well, the friday before said weekend, me and roomie wished them "goodbye", and went on a road trip for the weekend.
Wouldn't you know it? Those d**n movers never showed up. Weird.
Anywho they got hosed on escrow fees in the thousands.
F**k them.
Report
42points