Sometimes HOAs are horrible, because who wants to follow a bunch of annoying rules about what you can and cannot do on your own property?

But other times, HOAs can actually be helpful, like when your annoying neighbors break the rules.

The person in this story is thinking about reporting their new neighbors to the HOA.

Is that the best thing to do? Let’s read the whole story to decide.

WIBTA if I throw neighbors under the HOA bus?

Alright we can all agree HOA is the worst and never have I ever called them or used them against a neighbor but I don’t know what to do.

We share a section of grass located between the road and sidewalk.

The previous neighbor and I shared the cost and removed the grass and replaced it with river rock.

The new neighbors ripped up this section of grass without even asking first.

The new neighbors moved in about 3 years ago and I’ve never had issues with them, they keep to themselves and I don’t see/talk to them very much.

A few weeks ago I came home to their yard and our shared section completely torn up (replacing sprinklers). They removed all the river rock and replaced it with sod in the middle of June in central Texas.

They did this without any prior communication even though it is a shared section.

They’ve been watering everyday so their sod is starting to green up but my section of our shared area is completely dead.

Their sprinkler no longer works.

When I tried to run the sprinkler it no longer comes above the ground and just puddles water.

Im already being contacted by the HOA for the dead section. So I feel like since they removed the rock from my section and replaced it with sod without my consent that they should also repair the sprinkler head.

I had no issues with this sprinkler head before they did this and my other heads function normally.

He isn’t sure what to do.

Should I let HOA know the deal to avoid a fine or should I write them a letter asking for them to fix it?

I rarely see them and I don’t have their phone number so I don’t have another way to contact them.

I should also mention that the last time I spoke to them they told me they have already bought a new house and are getting ready to put this one on the market so I’m a little concerned they won’t care since it will soon not be their problem.

I think I’d rip up the newly laid sod and replace it with river rock.

Like they said, the homeowner is moving soon, so why should they care?

Let’s see how Reddit reacted to this story.

This person suggests talking to the neighbors first.

This person has another suggestion.

It wouldn’t be unreasonable to go to the HOA.

This person suggests talking to the neighbors first and then going to the HOA.

Yes, this is the point of an HOA.

This is a rare situation where the HOA actually might be able to help!

Let’s hope they don’t fumble it.

If you liked that post, check out this post about a woman who tracked down a contractor who tried to vanish without a trace.