New homeowners ignore HOA president's empty threats, then get even by uncovering violations on his property: 'Greg was hit with thousands of dollars in fines'

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Dec 3, 2025 2:00 PM EST

Here's a good piece of advice for any aspiring homeowners out there: Try not to move right next door to the president of your HOA!

This couple had the unfortunate experience of enduring constant complaints from the old dude in the adjacent home. The problem was that on the surface, they couldn't do much about it. This man seemed entitled to complete control of his neighborhood given his false sense of authority.

Clearly, he was motivated by the smallest of inconveniences, most of which did not even affect his property. In fact, when he took issue with the tiny vegetable garden that the author and her spouse plants in their own backyard, the couple discovered that they actually had not violated any rules or regulations in the HOA handbook. The HOA president responded with the most nonsensical comeback, claiming that he had the power to essentially invent rules. 

This was far from the truth, and the author knew that inherently. What helped them out in the end was the impulse to return the favor and investigate if there were any legitimate violations on the HOA president's property. After all, they had suspected some hypocritical behavior here. Well, it turns out they were right! 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • An older man in a blue sweater speaks to another man outside in a neighborhood.
    via Unsplash+ (Nathan Anderson)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Not only was this man wrong for claiming that he had the ability to invent HOA rules out of thin air, but he also was in the wrong according to the real rules that were written in that handbook. Yes, apparently, there were numerous aspects of his own property that were far from compliant with the neighborhood's rules and regulations. The couple used this knowledge not only to get their fines revoked, but also to get rid of this guy from his bogus position.

  • "HOA president tries to [enforce] fake rules, so we took him down [by] using his own bylaws"

    When my husband and I bought our first house last year, we were thrilled to join what seemed like a charming and quiet neighborhood. What we didn't
    via [deleted]
  • know was that we'd just moved in next door to Greg, the HOA president who ruled the community with an iron fist and a creepy sense of superiority. Greg
    via [deleted]
  • wasn't just bossy; he was downright intimidating. He had a way of showing up unannounced, glaring at people from his porch, and making thinly veiled threats about "consequences" if you didn't fall in line.
    via [deleted]
  • Our first real run-in with Greg came when we planted a small vegetable garden in our backyard. It was a modest setup
    via [deleted]
  • with tomatoes, herbs, and a simple trellis, tucked away so it wouldn't bother anyone. A week later, we received a formal notice
    via [deleted]
  • from Greg claiming the garden violated HOA landscaping rules. He called it an "eyesore" and said it had to go or we'd face a $250 fine.
    via [deleted]
  • This felt bizarre, so I checked the HOA handbook, and there was nothing about vegetable gardens being prohibited. I emailed Greg
    via [deleted]
  • to ask for clarification, and his response gave me chills. He replied that the "rules don't always need to be written down"
    via [deleted]
  • and that the HOA board (which he basically controlled) had the authority to "take action" against anyone jeopardizing the neighborhood's appearance. He
    via [deleted]
  • ended with, "I hope you understand how important it is to follow our standards-for everyone's sake."
    via [deleted]
  • The vague threat put us on edge, but we decided not to engage further. Instead, we quietly ignored the notice.
    via [deleted]
  • A week later, we received another complaint, this time about a wind chime hanging on our porch. Greg claimed it was "a disturbance to the peace" and
    via [deleted]
  • ordered us to remove it immediately. What made this so strange was that the wind chime was small, barely audible, and on our own porch.
    via [deleted]
  • Greg wasn't just enforcing rules. He was targeting us. That same week, I noticed Greg standing on the sidewalk near our house late at night, smoking a ciga tte and staring at our property. When I locked eyes with
    via [deleted]
  • him, he didn't move, just stood there watching until I went inside. It was unsettling. My husband and I realized we needed to do something before this escalated further.
    via [deleted]
  • An older man in a blue sweater speaks to another man outside in a neighborhood.
    via Unsplash+ (Nathan Anderson)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • We decided to fight back, but not directly. Instead, we studied Greg's property. He lived like a dictator but didn't seem to think the rules applied to him. A quick look revealed several blatant violations: an unapproved fence,
    via [deleted]
  • a massive shed, and a towering flagpole with a floodlight that lit up half the street at night. These were all against HOA regulations, which required approval for major additions.
    via [deleted]
  • We compiled everything into a formal complaint and submitted it anonymously to the rest of the HOA board. To our relief, the board (clearly tired of Greg's antics) took immediate action.
    via [deleted]
  • Within a week, Greg was hit with thousands of dollars in fines for his violations and was ordered to remove the structures or face escalating penalties.
    via [deleted]
  • Greg did not take this well. He started skulking around the neighborhood more often, glaring at anyone who dared to look his way. At the next HOA meeting, he tried to argue that his additions should be "grandfathered in"
    via [deleted]
  • because he was the president. However, one of the other board members, a retired lawyer, shut him down by reading the bylaws aloud and pointing out that Greg's additions were not only unapproved but egregiously out of compliance.
    via [deleted]
  • In a shocking twist, the board voted to remove Greg as HOA president on the spot. He had no choice but to comply with the fines and dismantle his precious flagpole and shed.
    via [deleted]
  • The new HOA president, a lovely woman with a passion for gardening, actually complimented our vegetable garden and wind chime at the next meeting. Meanwhile, Greg has retreated into his house,
    via [deleted]
  • barely speaking to anyone. Occasionally, we'll catch him watching us through his curtains, but he hasn't dared to approach since.
    via [deleted]
  • We are finally able to enjoy our garden, wind chime, and home in peace. Greg may still lurk in the shadows, but his reign of terror is over.
    via [deleted]

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

hoa hoa stories neighborhood neighborhood-drama neighborhood-stories entitled people karma hoa drama Bad Neighbor entitled people hoa members
Scroll Down For The Next Article