Neighbor Offends Grinchy Homeowners Association With Early Christmas Decorations

Author image for Mel Dawn
Mel Dawn
Dec 25, 2022 5:00 PM EST

I don't own any property, but I always that if I bought my own house, I'd be able to do whatever I want to it. Turns out, it's not that straightforward. There are things like building codes, and Homeowners Associations that have rules about how a given community ought to function. In theory, an HOA sounds like a good idea if the goal is to make sure people living in a neighborhood feel safe and heard by their neighbors. But sometimes people can get a bit carried away with the rules. Redditor u/Alternate_chaos5150 isn't even a member of their local HOA, and yet they've managed to ruffle a few feathers by putting up Christmas lights a little bit too early. When u/Alternate_chaos5150 turned to Reddit's r/AmitheAsshole to make sure they weren't in the wrong for ignoring the HOA's petty demands, the answer was a resounding 'you are not the A-hole.' 

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  • 01
    Rectangle - A r/AmItheAsshole · Posted by u/Alternate_chaos5150 Partassipant [4] 5 days ago 19.8k 2 13 18 9 3 20 G AITA for putting up my Christmas lights early even though the HOA that I'm not a part of says it violates the rules and upsets the people in the HOA Not the A-hole
    via r/AmItheAsshole
  • 02
    Font - I've had a previous experience with this group as I live in a neighborhood that has an HOA but I was there before the rest of the houses were built and before they formed this group. I'm not a member in anyway and that has been verified by a real estate attorney. So anyway apparently they have a rule over how many lights you can put up and what the earliest date you can put them up. The woman who I deal with the most when I upset them came by on 11/30 and told me my lights were against th
    via r/AmItheAsshole
  • 03
    Font - I told her that we been over this before that I am in no way beholden to their policies and don't care. I told her out of respect to the people in the neighborhood I did like that I wasn't going to go full Clark Griswold on my house but that my nieces and nephews loved lights so I would be putting up a fair amount. I also told her that I didn't care about their rules that the lights could only be on during certain hours and that once done putting them up on the 30th I would likely turn th
    via r/AmItheAsshole
  • 04
    Font - She told me that me breaking the rules upset other members and that I should respect their rules even if I don't follow them because I technically live in the neighborhood. She offered me a flyer which apparently had their rules for lights. I tossed it in the trash and told her to just get off my property. I probably could've entertained some of what she asked but I've just had enough of them.
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  • 05
    Font - FuntimeChris79 · 5 days ago · edited 5 days ago Colo-rectal Surgeon [33]] NO!! Just no! NTA! I'm so tired of unhappy people trying to ruin Christmas for others. Go Griswold my dude... advertise it... I guarantee you will bring way more cheer and happiness than you will upset people. Your neighbors kids probably love the lights too! 24.0k Reply Give Award Share Report Save Follow
    via r/AmItheAsshole
  • 06
    Rectangle - BriefHorror · 5 days ago · edited 4 days ago & 66 More Partassipant [1] Tell them every time they complain you'll put up another strand of lights
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  • 07
    Font - BOSSBABY33 · 5 days ago OP's house OP's rules 1.4k Reply Share CherryDoodles · 5 days ago That's the exact opposite of the situation when you're in an HOA. I simply cannot understand how these fascists are allowed to operate and why anyone would willingly join one. 1.4k Reply Share
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  • 08
    Font - ValkyrieChip · 5 days ago Partassipant [1] Upsets other HOA members? Sounds like it simply upsets her. I'd put up extra lights to spite the HOA. They sound like a bunch of grinches. NTA 1 7.5k Reply Give Award Share Report Save Follow
    via r/AmItheAsshole
  • 09
    Smile - murderymcmurderface · 5 days ago And if it upsets others, it's prob because they don't like the rules either and are jealous they need to follow them and OP doesn't. NTA 2.2k Reply Share ...
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  • 10
    Font - noahw420 · 5 days ago Make sure you leave them up at least a week after their imposed deadline then leave just one strand up for a several weeks after that just to remind them you could keep those lights up all year if you wanted. 5.2k Reply Give Award Share Report Save Follow Alternate_chaos5150 OP · 5 days ago Partassipant [4] Lol I usually don't get around to taking down Christmas stuff till after New Years at the earliest 2.9k Reply Share •..
    via r/AmItheAsshole
  • 11
    Rectangle - BazTheBaptist · 5 days ago Commander in Cheeks [204]| NTA you are not part of that system so their rules don't apply to you. She's TA for even trying it on 4 1.9k Reply Give Award Share Report Save Follow
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  • 12
    Rectangle - Unfair_Tonight_9797 · 5 days ago NTA. As someone who reviews HOA bylaws and other pointless shit, I disdain HOAS in general. Personally I would have taken it and lit it on fire and be like, "you can get off my lawn now". 1.3k Reply Give Award Share Report Save Follow
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  • 13
    Font - PleaseCoffeeMe · 5 days ago Partassipant [4] NTA. What part of "I'm not a member of the HOA" does she not understand? 546 Reply Give Award Share Report Save Follow
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christmas amitheasshole aita neighbors reddit thread Reddit homeowners association funny karen holidays
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