'[I] told them to get off my property': HOA goes after homeowner who isn't in their jurisdiction

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jun 17, 2024 11:00 AM EDT

This homeowner has found themself in an infuriating predicament. They're being bothered by an HOA. Not their HOA. Just an HOA that keeps sticking its nose in this homeowner's business! 

There are a lot of people who feel that HOA-run neighborhoods are a complete no-go for them. When buying a home, they won't even consider living in a neighborhood that's run by the organization. Homeowner's Associations have gained a reputation for being money-hungry busybodies. Maybe you're thinking that that's too harsh. But did you know that HOA's routinely charge people money for things like parking in their own driveways, having a dog, grilling outside, or painting their house the "wrong" color? It's true! They don't often make the neighborhood look nicer. Instead, they just find ways to antagonize residents into paying hundreds or thousands each month simply to live in their own homes. 

This person's situation is especially infuriating because they're not even a member of this HOA! They moved into their house first, and HOA came second after more housing was built. That's not going to stop the HOA from trying to wring some money out of this person, as you can read in the story below. 

After that, these Renaissance Fair workers shared the funniest things people have ever said to them, like one person who wondered aloud, "Is that fire real?"

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10361526784
    via Sebastian Pociecha on Unsplash
  • 02
    AITA for not following the rules of the neighborhood homeowners association even though I live in the neighborhood but am not a member.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 03
    Neighbors in a Home Owners Association have issues that I don't follow the HOA rules... So the neighbors called me an today... I bought a house 5 years ago that a real estate company built on speculation. Mine was the first house in a planned subdivision that they were going to build one house at a time or as people bought the individual tracks of land.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 04
    The area kind of hit a boom period and the other surrounding houses went up quick. In my contract to purchase my home their was no home owners association and because I was here first I don't have to join any if the other neighbors decide to create. I'm grandfathered in is what it says in my contract.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 05
    They all seem to forget this though and continually try to give me HOA fines for breaking the rules of the HOA. This has ranged from days I have things delivered to my home (Amazon deliveries on Sundays), to when I cut my grass to me having vehicles parked in my yard and they aren't happy I own an extra tract of land because I bought 2 to have a bigger yard so I could build a shooting range (I live in the south this is not that uncommon) .
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 06
    The recent event though that led to them calling me an they came over to ask me to is remove the eyesore in front of my garage. Now my home faces the road not anyone else's house so they do t stare at my garage but apparently they still don't like it.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 07
    I run a small hobby business of doing woodworking projects and I have a shelf outside my garage door full of various pieces of treated lumber that I may use one day. It's not the neatest and cleanest area but it's not a disheveled mess either.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 08
    So I told them if they lightened up and just left me alone about all the other stuff. I'd consider moving my wood pile if it bothered them so much. They proceeded to tell me that I needed to address all the HOA issues and take care of the wood pile. Along with stopping any deliveries on Sundays and getting my other truck out of my yard. They handed me what basically amounts to a ticket and I trashed it and told them to get the
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 09
    my property. They called me an for my unreasonable behavior and told me they'd be back Edit: thanks everyone for the feedback I've been in contact with a real estate attorney about deed and whether or not they can still attempt to legally enforce anything. Also I've contacted one on a creating a cease and desist. I do have cameras on my property.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 10
    Edit: The vehicle in the yard is just 1 and it's not an abandoned wreck it's a fairly new truck that I use mostly on weekends. It sets there so I can get my other vehicles out easier. I do move it when I mow so its just sitting there beside my drive way.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 11
    [d... NTA is there any way to - get a sort of restraining order on the HOA? Not the people per se, the entity itself?? Or a cease and desist maybe? Idk, but I would totally do that if it were me.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 12
    yikeswhathappened NTA. You should hire an attorney for $100 or whatever and have them send a letter to the HOA advising them not to contact you again for any reason or you'll consider if harassment.
    via u/yikeswhathappened
  • 13
    teresajs NTA Can you get your hands on their bylaws and start intentionally doing stuff that's against them? For instance, parking on the road, painting your house a bright unapproved color, putting up lawn ornaments...
    via u/teresajs
  • 14
    A couple years ago, I saw a 6 foot, brightly colored rooster at a local store. I regret not having bought it because it definitely made me smile. That's the kind of thing you need for your yard. Because nothing says "F you" like a 6 foot tall rooster...
    via u/teresajs
  • 15
    Annalirra NTA. Post this to malicious compliance. There will be lots of great ideas for how to deal with your unruly HOA that you are not a member of. I hate HOAs with the passion of a thousand suns.
    via u/Annalirra
  • 16
    Bo... NTA. Lucky you that you are not a part of the HOA. They are a nuisance and I don't understand why anyone ever puts up with them. As you have seen, it's mostly a way for jerks to power trip over their neighbors. You need to send the HOA board a letter
    via u/Bookish4269
  • 17
    reiterating that you are not a part of their association, and stating that they are not allowed on your property without prior permission and any violation will result in the police being called for trespassing. Then if they show up again, call the cops. Do not let these little dictators hassle you.
    via u/Bookish4269
  • 18
    Dashiepants Ok look I hate HOAs as much as anyone, having suffered at the hands of a particularly power hungry board member. The delivery days and silly things like that are absolutely ridiculous. You certainly aren't TA for not following the dumb rules. that you aren't beholden to. Harassing you makes them
    via u/Dashiepants
  • 19
    bad neighbors. And they definitely should have taken you up on the compromise offer. BUT The visible from the street wood pile is kinda trashy looking and you obviously know it. And if you shoot regularly in a residential neighborhood, especially if you are on less
    via u/Dashiepants
  • 20
    than 5 acres of land or towards anyone's yard, you I say these things having grown up in the south, in farm country, as a gun lover. My Dad has many trashy piles of wood and other weird salvaged in his completely wooded 16 acres that no one can see from the road. He has a whole cache of guns but he doesn't
    via u/Dashiepants
  • 21
    target shoot on his land because it's loud and af. It sounds like you knew this was going to be a suburban neighborhood when you bought but choose to act like you live on 100 private acres. You might not be TA but you might need to consider the possibility that you are also a bad neighbor.
    via u/Dashiepants
  • 22
    hiki-bootz NTA, and don't move your wood pile. You didn't decide to move into a neighborhood with an HOA. THEY decided to move into a neighborhood where not everyone is rules by the HOA. If they don't like it, they should've bought a house somewhere you aren't. You were there first.
    via u/hiki-bootz

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