'Our HOA got sued for having a homeowner remove their wheelchair ramp': Top HOA Stories of the Week (April 17, 2024)

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Apr 17, 2024 8:00 AM EDT

Why would anyone want to be an HOA board member? That's just a one-way ticket to immediately becoming one of the most disliked people in the neighborhood. 

I'm convinced that some people in this world would rather be in the most unnecessary, fake position of power, even if it meant making all the enemies. We feel this even at a young age when classmates try to hog the playground and assume some sort of faux position of power. This also applies to the annoying teacher's pets in school and your high school class president. 

Well, unfortunately, this dynamic has managed to graduate to the homeowner level, but who isn't surprised here? Bossy people are going to find any way imaginable to be bossy at all stages of life. That is certainly not going to change any time soon, at least as long as these HOAs exist. Keep scrolling below for these top HOA horror stories. For more, check out these stories of regrettable interactions with HOA board members.

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  • 01
    HOA president enforcing bylaw that all cars must be in garages Small complex of 14 units all in a row. Each unit has a 2 car garage and a driveway that can fit two cars. The bylaw says "cars must be parked in garages" but gives no reason why or a time frame of when it's allowed or not. Literally, you just can't park in your own driveway, ever. There's 3 units who all need to keep a vehicle in the driveway but he's making them park across the street in front of a different condo complex. Unreal.
    via u/One_Handed_Wonder
  • 02
    After years of happily grilling on our front patio, the HOA has decided to switch to a new insurance provider, which expressly forbids all forms of grilling. We have a gas and a charcoal grill. Our version of meal prep is grilling a bunch of meat and veggies to eat on for the rest of the week and now we have to completely get ride of both grills. It's a violation to store them in the garage or on the patio. I'm thinking of malicious compliance because they did say we can grill, as long as the gr
    via u/Starly_Storm
  • 03
    No chalk drawing in neighborhood playground I just received this email from my crazy HOA Chalk Drawing in Robin Park This notice is to notify all residents that chalk drawings on the walkway in Robin Park is not permitted. The stone path is not designed for this, and it will negatively impact it over time. If children want to draw with chalk, they may do so on their own driveways. We are asking that parents please refrain from allowing children to use chalk on the Robin Park pathway.
    via u/SoBoredatHomeToday
  • 04
    HOA sends a letter that I have to have the lawn fixed in 14 days. I scram to call about getting it re- sodded and treatment. And then I call the HOA and they said not to sod the lawn and ask for more time for the treatment to be done. Then the sod guy says he already bought the sod... The the HOA lady says "we will deal with this and then get to the "power washing" letters. My house doesn't look like it needs to be power washed. I feel like this is a control freak who just wants to tell people w
    via u/illjustbemyself
  • 05
    voucher420 2 days ago Our HOA got sued for having a homeowner remove their wheelchair ramp. It was built to code, and it was barely noticeable.
    via u/Secret_Coyote7293
  • 06
    No-Description7849. 2 days ago fee for elevator insurance in a condo building with no elevator.
    via u/Secret_Coyote7293
  • 07
    doh1998 2 days ago HOA came into my backyard to take pics of dead grass that was planted by the builder and died because the sprinkler system was installed incorrectly, so no water getting to that area. They opened my gate, walked in and took pics to report as a violation. Let's just say the phone call I made was not a pleasant one.
    via u/Secret_Coyote7293
  • 08
    charmparticle · 2 days ago The latest drama at my condo is that last week the dog run was sprayed with some kind of herbicide that killed all the grass. A neighbor posted on our FB group and blamed another neighbor for doing it because of hating dogs (the post was quickly taken down, but I saw it). The property manager emailed our community saying the landscaping service did the spraying by mistake and will be replacing the turf and it's of no harm to dogs. The daughter of the person who was bla
    via u/Secret_Coyote7293
  • 09
    SOTG_Duncan_Idaho 2 days ago A tame, but still absurd one from me: I had a cargo basket you attach to a receiver hitch on my porch. It was just there while I was cleaning out the garage and putting up some shelves over a week or so. But, of course, either someone complained or the enforcement patrol came by. They tried to fine me, citing the rule that says that (paraphrased) "no trailer, camper or other similar vehicle may be parked outside of a fully enclosed garage". I just laughed, because th
    via u/Secret_Coyote7293
  • 10
    Edward_T_Head 2 days ago I got a letter for not having enough plants on a slope 2 days after a new build purchase, during a drought.
    via u/Secret_Coyote7293
  • 11
    h4tb20s 2 days ago I had both a friend and a relative's HOA force them to remove fruit trees. Apparently they feared rodents moving in to get to the fruit. What they don't tell you is that the biggest attractor of vermin is retention ponds, put in by none other than...the developers behind HOA's.
    via u/Secret_Coyote7293
  • 12
    No_Tension8376 · 1 day ago Our HOA raised our fees by 15% with the promise they would finish our parking lot (it's been under construction for years) Turns out the HOA misread the contract with the pavers and painters. They sent out an email last week asking residents to attend a "Line Painting Party" where we have to bring our own supplies and paint our own parking lines.
    via u/Secret_Coyote7293
  • 13
    KnitBrewTimeTravel 20 hr. ago I once looked at a house in a HOA and they wanted to have the right to tell me what I could and couldn't do, in my own house that I paid for! If I wanted someone to tell me to turn my music down, to mow the lawn NOW, and otherwise micromanage every bit of my existence, I'd live with my parents
    via u/Secret_Coyote7293
  • 14
    HOA says fenced yard is considered "common area" and wants toddler swingset removed. Advice Wanted So we have a new pain in the HOA management company and I received an email this morning stating "I noted you have a play set in the rear of your unit. The playset must be removed per the governing documents. Once you have the removal scheduled, if you could please let me know so we can remove from your account." I looked up the Reg on play sets, and it states, "Items such as statues, benches, bird
    via u/SignificantBelt2073
  • 15
    Mind you, we were told fenced in proprieties were private and therefor all lawn and maintenance was strictly on the owner. So I mow my own lawn, pull my own weeds out.. etc. so I pointed out that if my fenced in yard is considered "common element" then they should be maintaining our lawns!
    via u/SignificantBelt2073
  • 16
    He shot that down. But anyway, I have a backyard that dips below level and when standing on the path behind my house, you can see the entirety of my yard behind the fence. Most other units you cannot see inside of. (Side note: I've had this play set up for a few years. It's a plastic Little Tikes one for toddlers!). But if he's requiring I remove it, then I want to make sure he goes inside every single fenced in yard and requires all benches, bird baths, kids toys and sports equipment are remove
    via u/SignificantBelt2073
  • 17
    How can I keep my little play set for my kids in my privately fenced in yard that I maintain 100%, but is apparently "common element" ?? Help!! I'm so irritated! Ahhhh! Edit: my yard has been determined to be "LIMITED COMMON ELEMENT"
    via u/SignificantBelt2073
  • 18
    UnethicalFood 1 mo. ago Look at your deed and not just the HOA docs. Do you own that property, or is it a limited common element. If you are in a condo there is a very real chance that you only own the space inside of the walls. If you are in a townhome there is a good possibility that you own a tract of land and the portion of your building situated on that land. The property maintenance requirements will also be spelled out in the HOA docs, but if you have dedcated yard that you are required t
    via u/SignificantBelt2073
  • 19
    Top HOA Stories
    via Avi Waxman

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