Homeowner finds a "well loophole" allowing them to leave their HOA by connection to municipal water: 'We rallied 44 people on our street'

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Oct 14, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

We all answer to a higher power, but the more that we can pretend we don't and have some control and agency over our own lives, the happier we tend to be. Whether it's the plain old government authority boss, coach, parents, or that pesky HOA having or at least feeling like you have some control over your own life, the better you're going to feel about it. 

Still, there's no avoiding answering to a higher power, despite the attempts some people make—and some people take this way too far… But you can better your situation immensely by getting yourself out from under the thumb of authoritarian organizations like many HOAs tend to be, that have inconsistent and unfair applications of rulings that its own busy-body board members decide. 

This homeowner discovered a loophole in their HOA's bylaws that revealed a way to get out of community HOA. And that's a well loophole—as, in a loophole contingent being connected to the HOA's hole, you dig in the ground to find water. Not a "Well, I guess we found a loophole!" type of situation. As it turns out, being a part of the HOA was actually only contingent on whether or not your land was connected to the HOA's community well. The homeowner rallied a bunch of their neighbors to connect to the municipal water in this short and sweet story that they shared with this online community. See their original post, along with some of the reactions and responses from that original thread, below.

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    Cheezburger Image 10416021504
    via S. Tsuchiya
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    We left our HOA due to a well Loop Hole We lived on the edge street of our HOA. It was discovered that the way the bylaws were written, it all hinged on if you were connected to the community well. We rallied 44 people on our street to connect to municipal water. We found a government grant and got a bulk price from a lawyer and plumber and got our costs down from about 12k a house to 3k a house.
    via HydenMyname
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    Then we worked with the city who agreed to the street work for connection. So I (and others who left) literally have HOA members on 3 sides (and across the street from another HOA), but we are no longer in any HOA! So read your bylaws people! There may be a way out! TO ADD: This also created an effect where people not on interior streets could dig their own well and leave the HOA. We literally made the HOA map look like Swiss cheese!
    via HydenMyname
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    • prw8201 7h ago Now that's what I like to read! 44 left out of how many?
    via HydenMyname
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    Wise Use1012 • 7h ago A nice heartwarming post first thing in the morning. Tis a good day.
    via HydenMyname
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    Delicious-Dinner3051 .7h ago. I think this post makes you president of this sub. You've officially defeated the HOA.
    via HydenMyname
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    LoudandQuiet47 6h ago • • So, let me get this straight. You left the HOA, for the cost of paying for water utilities? That's amazing!!! I'd rather get city water and not have to worry about the HOA BS. Good on you!!
    via HydenMyname
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    suzanious 7h ago • Well done! Find those loopholes and fly your flags, wash your car, park where you want, and leave your trash cans out! Power to the people
    via HydenMyname
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    toma70 6h ago • • OP, if you are using a septic tank and you are on municipal water, you are going to want to check it yearly. The municipal water likely has chlorine or other chemicals in it that may severely reduce your tanks ability to process solid waste. I have this problem and I have to get my tank pumped every year as a result. Well worth it to get out of HOA
    via HydenMyname
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    Top_Conversation16... 3h ago • • A coworker of mine ran up about $8k in fines and interest with her HOA while out of the country. She fought it, lost, and decided to pay it. The HOA sent her a form letter to sign that listed the fines and required her to agree that she was an HOA member and was waiving all rights to contest her status as an HOA member.
    via HydenMyname
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    She asked a lawyer to review and it turned out that her street was a very late addition to the subdivision. The builders were offered a chance to buy one more piece or land after half the planned homes had been built and they agreed to do so. The owners on the street had right to join the HOA, and the HOA would be responsible first maintaining the street if a majority of owners did so.
    via HydenMyname
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    But an individual owner could agree to pay the same price as the HOA paid per person for trash collection and not join. So she responded with "please provide proof"... and they had none. There was talk about whether or not other people had joined or if the HOA had failed to explicitly communicate that the owners had a choice so other people were considering suing.
    via HydenMyname
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    I don't know how that turned out, but I that she got out from under their thumb and likely inflicted chaos.
    via HydenMyname
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    carlcrossgrove • 6h ago. My big question: 440+ homes on a "community well"? I probably don't quite understand, but that sounds nearly impossible, and no doubt the reason the HOA was strict about water use. I'm wary of "shared well" in any RE listings, even between 2 homes. Trying to understand how 540 homes could possibly use one well. This story is inspiring, and I hope it gets more people to investigate their bylaws.
    via HydenMyname
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    mybreakfastiscold 8h ago • • Was the HOA very restrictive? How much were your dues? Is there any deed restriction on your home, where the HOA or another HOA could re-swallow you at a later date?
    via HydenMyname

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