'We won our battle against a busybody Karen': Neighbor conspires to get HOA to enforce new rules, Redditor wins out

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 9, 2023 2:00 PM EDT

The only thing worse than a conflict with a Karen or a conflict with an HOA is a conflict with both at once. This thread was posted to Reddit by u/MicroBadger_, a father who had recently lost a battle with his HOA over the placement of new play equipment he and his wife had purchased for their kids. The movement of this equipment required the movement of the play shed to be a bit closer to a certain Karen's home. When Karen heard this news, you can just imagine how she reacted. Luckily, however, the Redditor and his wife only needed four signatures for the HOA to approve the new location of their play shed, which was not a difficult number for them to achieve as their community was large.

 

On the day of the community meeting, Karen showed up and gave a ridiculously overdramatic speech about how this shed is the worst thing that could ever happen to her and her home. Although HOA didn't fully buy her story, they did help her out a bit so as to give her a little extra satisfaction. While they approved of the new shed location, the HOA required the Redditor and his wife to remove half of the play equipment they had ordered for their children. So the feud only continued for another cycle, ultimately landing in the Redditor's favor upon their appeal. 

 

Keep scrolling below for the full account of what went down. For more, check out another story involving an HOA and a Karen.

Advertisement
  • 01
    Plant - "Neighbor tried to bully HOA into enforcing non-existent rules on me."
    via Avi Waxman
  • 02
    Font - Neighbor tried to bully HOA into enforcing non- existent rules on me. This is one part rant, one part victory lap as I've received news that we won our battle against a busy body Karen of a neighbor.
    via u/MicroBadger_
  • 03
    Font - For the background, we had gotten our kids some play equipment for Christmas (Trampoline, jungle gym, playset and swings) to help get them outside during the summer. Our HOA has what's referred to as a "side plane" restriction. Basically, anything in the back yard needs to be tucked behind the house. I personally find the rule dumb as 20% of the homes in the neighborhood have back yards that border on a road so no amount of tucking will hide their visibility. So original placement got fla
    via u/MicroBadger_
  • 04
    Font - Part of this process involved moving an existing shed to the other side of our yard to free up space to get everything else shifted over. As part of the application process, we have to get 4 neighbors to sign the application to prove we informed them of our plans. That's all the signature is supposed to mean, not that you personally agree with the changes. Well, a certain Karen flipped the out when she learned we wanted to move the shed closer to her yard. Told us that wouldn't work, refu
    via u/MicroBadger_
  • 05
    Font - Cue Covenant's meeting and who do I see decided to attend? Karen. She goes on a long rant about how moving my shed would be the gravest injustice on the planet and starts about other she didn't approve of on my property including a screen in porch that was built 20 years before I bought the place. Speak up in defense of said bull and committee reviews my requests and say they don't have any questions. As I'm leaving I overhear Karen saying she wants to see my applications. Technically it'
    via u/MicroBadger_
  • 06
    Font - Next day I learn my shed application was approved but I can only keep half of the play equipment I requested due to "visual impact on the neighbors". decided to over my kids when she couldn't get her way regarding the shed. File an appeal with the board and type up laundry list of why their restriction is bull based on our Architecture Guidelines. First of which is there is no cap on equipment, the said as much during Karen's fest but apparently caved just to shut her up. Another that my
    via u/MicroBadger_
  • 07
    Font - Karen. I'm bound by Get the HOA's rules, not your personal thoughts. I'm going to enjoy smiling and waving every time I enter at your bitter that shed to grab something or my kids are playing outside on the equipment.
    via u/MicroBadger_
  • 08
    Font - sedition- 21 hr. ago If they're so concerned about what can be seen from the street why not just mandate fences? 181 Reply Share
    via u/MicroBadger_
  • 09
    Font - MicroBadger_ OP. 20 hr. ago That's another dumb part. Fences can be no taller than 4 ft and need space between the slats (townhomes can have 6 ft privacy fences). Apparently it makes for an open and inviting community. 138 Reply Share
    via u/MicroBadger_
  • 10
    Font - ac8jo 21 hr. ago I hope your kids are like mine when they're outside playing - LOUD!!! And for good measure, you should see if you can find some outdoor drums to add on to the playset, those look like fun for kids. If the playset has a steering wheel (like my kids' old playset did), your kids NEED a horn. 67 Reply Share
    via u/MicroBadger_
  • 11
    Font - Lonely-World-981. 20 hr. ago I hope you become an expert on every rule imaginable and can submit photographic evidence every time Karen breaks one. 47 Reply Share
    via u/MicroBadger_
  • 12
    Font - MicroBadger_ OP. 19 hr. ago I submitted one regarding the firewood they got tucked behind a tree on the side of their house (tree had fallen over) the night she went on her rant at the hearing. It's been there a year and I personally don't care. But like my other neighbor mentioned the day I was talking to him, if you want to play rules are rules, well, same applies to you. 65 Reply Share
    via u/MicroBadger_
  • 13
    Font - Pangiom 20 hr. ago God forbid the house looks like it's being lived in. HOA are so dumb. Could never live somewhere where I couldn't do what o wanted in my own yard that I own and pay for 34 Reply Share
    via u/MicroBadger_
  • 14
    Font - Bearsandgravy 20 hr. ago That whole rule is stupid. However, trampolines are such a liability hazard I wouldn't tell my friends to get one. I know some homeowners policies straight up will non renew people if they have one. My one friend had a trampoline in his yard (no fences cause HOA banned it), some shit bag neighbor kid comes over, jumps on it, breaks his arm, and my friends homeowners insurance had to pay out like 300k.
    via u/MicroBadger_
  • 15
    Font - o Zerbo 19 hr. ago I truly don't understand people like this. I don't live in an HOA so people in my neigborhood can do whatever the but the neighbor behind me has a pool. The neighbor on one side of me they like, just put up a giant play structure for their daughters, and the neighbors on the other side of me have a shed full of yard tools and a perfectly manicured lawn and like to mow it twice a week. And you know what? I love all of it. It makes the neighborhood feel alive. I'm friends
    via u/MicroBadger_
  • 16
    Font - MicroBadger_ OP. 16 hr. ago I will admit I'm okay with upkeep rules but I fall well short of design limitations and color palette recommendations. If you want to paint your house lime green with hot pink trim have at it. I only ask you keep it free of algae and grime so it can be a radiant beacon to the community.
    via u/MicroBadger_

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

karens hoa neighbors bad neighbors karens in the wild entitled reddit thread Bad Neighbor Reddit home karen entitled people
Scroll Down For The Next Article