HOA in Washington State Sends Island-Bound Homeowners an $18,500 Invoice With Just 2 Months to Pay, Leaving Homeowners With Little Options—They Claim It Has Been a Known Issue for 18 Years, but the Homeowner Was Unaware When Buying

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

Jul 17, 2026 7:15 AM EDT

An unforeseen urgent cost of repairs billed by the HOA was just another blow for this homeowner, and their nightmare scenario caused by issues with a shared private water supply.

I've seen it said that purchasing a property and doing whatever maintenance is required is like being forever locked in a wrestling match with all of the previous owners.

To be honest, with the DIY learn-as-you-go approach I have taken to maintenance in my first home, I have to imagine that whoever ends up there next once my time there is done will be, similarly, one day scratching their head wondering just why the heck that particular approach was taken to fixing a problem.

Being hit with unforeseen costs shortly after purchasing a new home is one of a would-be buyer's foremost fears. With certainty, for first home buyers, move-up buyers, and down-sizers alike, the fear that lives in the back of your mind will be that despite any due diligence you do, there will be something that is missed and you'll spend the next few years finding out that there were expensive problems that you weren't told about

Disclosure isn't always a legal requirement for real estate sales. But even if it is a requirement where you live, it still won't save you from the stress of a lengthy legal process and the possible burden of proof that the previous owners knew about it in the first place.

In this post, a homeowner shared how an unforeseen issue with the private shared water supply, which was shared with the entire HOA, had blown out of control into a major problem. Hopefully all ends well for them.

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My HOA emailed out an $18,500 invoice to all homeowners on June 1, 2026 and it is due August 1, 2026

A rural well on private property against a paddock backdrop — *A rural well like the one in the story.*

When this homeowner and property buyer bought their house in 2021, there was no mention of any issues. But not long after they moved in, during their first summer there, they began to have issues with their shared private well. This cost them not only $7000 in immediate repairs, paid to the HOA, but also caused them to lose 30 newly planted trees. The HOA then also raised the HOA fees the following year to help cover the costs.

The following year, they tell all homeowners that we will need to pay $7000 to repair the water system. Then they raised the HOA fees $100 a month to help pay for said water fixes. And then...crickets. Nothing from 2023 fee raise until this year at the annual meeting in May-The board tells us they have to fix it immediately and they send out this invoice after telling everyone they were going to do it at the annual meeting. It wasn't a vote, no choice in the matter. I appealed to them via email; — This led to them needing to pay $7000 to the HOA in order to fix the water systems of the affected properties.

*A private rural water source on a homeowner's property.*

After radio silence since rates were raised in 2022, the HOA suddenly decided that there were repairs that were going to need to be made immediately this year. Homeowners were informed about this in May, and the invoice of $18,500 was issued on June 1st, with a payment due date of August 1st, 2026.

This is a substantial cost to be paid on short notice for almost anyone. Roughly 30-40% of Americans would have difficulty covering an unexpected $400 expense in cash. While many homeowners will have more savings than the average person, very few would have an emergency repair fund that would cover a bill of $18,500. This would leave little option but to take out a loan or remortgage the house in order to pay.

When various members of the HOA appealed the cost, the HOA simply responded that there would be a lien placed on the homes of non-payers.

Apparently I wasn't the only one who had a similar response. The board responded to everyone haughtily and said. "This isn't a surprise; no one should be shocked; we've known about this for 18 years. If people don't pay, we will put a lien on their home and will charge 12% interest." I thanked the board for putting it in writing that they've known about this for 18 years and I've only been in my house for 5 while they've said nothing for the last 3 years to boot. — The HOA board's response that the issues have been "Known about for 18 years," did little to comfort them as they had only been living there for 5 and had never heard anything about it.

I've never been late or missed paying HOA dues. I have had issues with my neighbor. He went to the board meeting in 2022 and complained and whined and bitched about me having someone on my property living in an RV. Mind you, I understood this probably wasn't within the rules but I looked around and saw three of my neighbors doing exactly that and decided it was fine. The board allowed — This issue was on top of the issues that they had had with a neighbor who had gone to the board meeting in 2022 and complained about the fact that the homeowner had someone living in an RV on their land

that neighbor to stand up and talk sh about me while I wasn't even there and then the HOA president showed up at my house and told me my RV had to go. I said, "When you enforce the rules on everyone, I'll follow the rules." They made one other person (another woman) get her trailer off her property but have allowed two male owned and occupied homes to continue with their RVS on their property. I feel like a lawsuit is coming to a head and I told them as much if they put a lien on my house. — The neighbor's interference then caused them troubles with the board

Below are some of the responses from the original discussion

*A remote island property, as with the one in the story.*

A commenter had this warning regarding shared private water systems:

Be very careful when you buy a home with shared "private" water system. More horror stories than not.

Another gave this advice

It's called a special assessment and it is an important reason why you should evaluate the HOA reserves and for HOA's to do reserve study's. If you don't feel that the reserve is properly funded for the potential expenses you should sell or purchase insurance to cover the special assessment. No one wants to pay more in dues but a properly funded reserve is ment to cover these things.

Some asked follow up questions

While others let the homeowner know that they were in a bad situation

One commenter had this to say about the situation

I know what sub we are in, but you bought a home in an unforgiving environment, and the cost of living in that environment will have to be paid one way or another. It sounds like the HOA maybe hasn't been run very well (pun intended?), but it's also possible that there isn't a cheaper way around the issue.

"Who else should pay?" this responder asked

Well, who else should pay for it if not the homeowners? Someone has to pay for the costs.

Another commenter added to the repeated advice that it is best to avoid shared private water sources

When we were looking, everyone here is on private well or shared wells. We passed 3 houses cause of a shared well. Too many possible future hassles.

Others advised that this was potentially not a malicious act, simply an HOA trying to get out of a bad spot.

Did you read the HOA bylaws? Attend any meetings? Sounds like this is a perfectly legal special assessment for maintenance and repairs of shared infrastructure. You agreed to the bylaws when you joined the HOA. If you don't pay it they can and we'll put a lien on your property and potentially force a sale. Pay the special assessment and then sell because this type of property is clearly not for you.

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