HOA President "Susan" grills new neighbor about using electric grills on his balcony, he proves they're acceptable with the support of other residents: 'Lady, it’s grilled chicken. Not nuclear waste.'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Aug 11, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

Susan sounds like a real pleasure to have in your neighborhood. She's the kind of person who goes out of her way to critique the people around her and to start trouble with folks who are simply trying to enjoy themselves on their own property. Talk about an easy way to make enemies in your own backyard.

Before we delve into the story of Susan's self-inflicted debacle, let's take a moment to get into the psychology of people like her. You know, the kinds of individuals who are likely to join a local HOA just so they can feel some false sense of authority. We all have "Susans" in our lives, dating back to elementary school. They are the students who are quick to complain to the teacher about wrongdoing they are perceiving when there actually wasn't any wrongdoing to begin with. They are the coworkers at your level who somehow think they are in charge of you. They are the collaborators who assume that whatever work you contributed to a group project is riddled with errors that only they can fix. 

Eventually, people like Susan have no choice but to join their local homeowners' associations because they harbor that untapped need to boss everyone else around. For whatever reason, their families don't cut it. No, these folks need to interfere in the lives of friends and strangers, tell them what they are doing wrong in the most unsolicited and unnecessary manner, and assert their "dominance" just to feel something. Once you have successfully identified the Susan in your neighborhood, you can prepare to get even with them, as this author did. Keep scrolling below for his full anecdote after his barbecue Sundays were nearly taken away from him.

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  • "My HOA President Told Me I Couldn’t Grill… On My Own Balcony"

    A person (face not shown) wearing a blue apron cleans his grill.
    via Vincent Keiman

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • The funny thing about the Susan of this story is that she merely assumed that the author hadn't double-checked if his electric grill complied with the HOA guidelines and principles. It turns out that he had already done that due diligence, and Susan had no legs to stand on. In fact, she had already made enough enemies in the neighborhood that other residents were not only willing to take the author's side, but they also bought electric grills themselves. It sounds like Susan's backyard yoga will be perpetually interrupted from this day forward.

  • So I just moved into this new apartment complex, super chill, nice view, and best of all: my own little balcony. I bought a compact electric grill to enjoy the occasional weekend barbecue. Nothing crazy. No smoke b Just burgers and peace. S.
    via Mental-Set2658
  • Cue Susan, the self-appointed HOA president who lives two doors down. Comes knocking like the place is on fire. "Are you grilling? That's not allowed!"
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  • I told her I checked the lease and HOA guidelines before I bought it. Electric grills are totally fine. Gas or charcoal? Nope. I even showed her the paperwork. She scans it, blinks, and goes, "Well, I don't like the smell. It's distracting when I'm doing yoga."
    via Mental-Set2658
  • Lady, it's grilled chicken. Not nuclear waste. She said she was going to "bring it up with the board." I said, "You are the board." Her face twitched like I broke her simulation. Long story short, she sent out an email to the building trying to get electric grills banned entirely.
    via Mental-Set2658
  • Nobody backed her. In fact, three other tenants bought grills after that email. We now have "Balcony BBQ Sundays." Susan hasn't spoken to me since. Blessings.
    via Mental-Set2658
  • An adult brunette woman wearing an olive green sweater clenches both of her fists and holds them on either side of her head in fury.
    via Engin Akyurt

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Relative-Studio207 6h ago HOAs are evil.
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  • srivi20 6h ago • Honestly I never understood the way HOA's operate in America. We have HOA's here, but they are only to care for the common areas.
    via Mental-Set2658
  • Absolutely no one gives a crop what you do in your personal space, including gardens & front lawns. It baffles me how a country founded on the idea of "freedom" and "liberty" would let a few Karens dictate what decorations are put up & what you can and cannot have in your own personal space.
    via Mental-Set2658
  • Sorry-Climate-7982 6h ago Quick lesson usually learned the hard way: Never never EVER move into anything with an HOA. Treat HOA properties as if they were Chernobyl or worse.
    via Mental-Set2658
  • Even if the HOA has good leadership currently odds. are pretty close to zero it will stay that way, and HOAs seem to attract micro- Mussolinis more than day old fish attract flies. PS: I hope you like lotsa garlic and onions on your grilled goodies.
    via Mental-Set2658
  • True_Course1535 3h ago From the title at first I was like YTA if a fire started you could destroy other peoples. homes, but you said it's just an electric grill so much less chance of fire and it's in your contract so sounds like you're doing you due diligence. Hoa is the
    via Mental-Set2658
  • OMITN 6h ago . The HOA epitomises the huge love of rules and enforcing them that's everywhere in the US. Wonderful country filled with the friendliest people I've ever met, but chill out on the rules and regulations..! Good on you for pushing back OP..!
    via Mental-Set2658

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hoa hoa stories neighbors neighborhood neighborhood-drama neighborhood-stories entitled people karma hoa drama Bad Neighbor entitled people hoa members
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