Non-HOA homeowner refuses to take down holiday lights because of HOA rules: '[I] told her to just get off my property... I've just had enough'

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Nov 8, 2024 11:00 AM EST

Bah-humbug! This HOA member is getting coal in her stocking after spending an inordinate amount of time bothering someone who isn't even in her HOA. 

If you live in the USA, you know just how intense people are about the holiday season. As soon as the clock strikes midnight on Halloween, all of the retail stores start to put out the Christmas and Hanukkah merchandise. And it's not just stores, either. A lot of people don't even wait until Thanksgiving before they start decking out their houses with lights or trimming a Christmas tree with beautiful ornaments. It makes the whole house feel warm and cozy! Unless you have the cold heart of this HOA member, who remained unmoved by this homeowner's choice of Christmas decor. 

When you're in an HOA, you don't have much of a choice about what you'll do with your home. You simply must listen to them, or face heavy fines. But when you're not even in that HOA… that's a whole different story, and you can read all the fun details of u/Alternate_chaos5150's story down below. 

Up next, have a laugh at some of these bakery mistakes and messed-up cakes, like one person who shared what happened when "the bakery department tossed seven different types of unproofed dough into the composting bin overnight." 

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    12 AV
    via Juliana Malta on Unsplash+

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    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
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 03
    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.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 04
    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 the policy and that I was not allowed to have as many lights up as I do.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 05
    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
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 06
    putting them up on the 30th I would likely turn them on and leave them on till Christmas. 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.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 07
    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.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 08
    F... 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!
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 09
    noahw420 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.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 10
    BazTheBaptist NTA you are not part of that system so their rules don't apply to you. She's TA for even trying it on
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 11
    Unfair_Tonight_... NTA. As someone who reviews HOA bylaws and other pointless sh, 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".
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 12
    JeepersCreeper... NTA. These rules simply don't apply to you. Do you know who their HOA management company is? I would bring it up with them. If this woman is marching onto other people's property and making baseless demands on behalf of the HOA, she could cause real problems for them.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 13
    PleaseCoffee Me NTA. What part of "I'm not a member of the HOA" does she not understand?
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 14
    Thia-M3762 HAHAHA I love this post so much. I've had a long day and you have made me laugh so much. I also just read this aloud to a coworker who is having HOA issues. We both say NTA and we love you! You are our hero!
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 15
    ablondedude777 NTA, although if they are bright turning most of them off after 11pm or so might be the courteous thing to do if they seem to shine onto/into you neighbors houses.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150
  • 16
    Judiferr NTA. Everything I've ever heard about HOAs s ks. I'm not sure why anyone would want to be a part of one quite honestly. You aren't hurting anyone and they have no right to tell you how you can decorate your house. Please don't let them bly you, you are absolutely not the a h le here.
    via u/Alternate_chaos5150

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hoa house home owners association home christmas hoa stories neighbors lights decorations neighborhood-drama christmas lights hoa members
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