The HOA’s Rules Control Nearly Everything About Daily Life. Now They’re So Extreme, One Resident Can’t Even Sell Her House
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Imagine owning a house in an HOA that goes from bad to unbearable when the leadership changes. What would you do if the rules got worse and worse? Would you deal with it, fight back or move?
In this story, one homeowner is in this situation, and she’s trying to sell her house. That’s easier said that done because nobody wants to live in an HOA this strict!
Keep reading for all the details.
I’m done with my HOA. They charged me for having guests
We just had a leadership change in our HOA, and since then, living in this neighborhood has been an absolute circus.
Every other week, there’s some warning, notice, or fine taped to our doors
At first, it was annoying but somewhat understandable like no ugly sheds visible from the street, keep front yards clean.
Fine. I get wanting the neighborhood to look nice
But then the changes got worse.
Then they decided some of the older trees were ruining the aesthetic and had them removed.
Now the whole street feels like a frying pan half the year because there’s barely any shade left
Then it all went downhill from there.
These rules are ridiculous!
Now we have new regulations such as no outdoor wandering for cats and no barking for dogs.
It is even worse than that since children cannot play in their front yards.
The neighbors have received warning letters because of drawing with chalk on sidewalks
But one rule was even worse than the rest.
The rule that finally broke me?
If your guests park in front of your house and even on the street for more than an hour, there’s a $20 fee.
An actual fee. For having visitors.
At this point, it feels less like a neighborhood and more like a suburban dictatorship run by people with too much free time.
Selling is easier said than done.
I’m done.
We listed the property for sale, but the second buyers hear strict HOA, they mentally check out.
It doesn’t help that the HOA staff is always outside making scenes with residents over random violations
Perhaps I should just sell and get out of here and go somewhere where humans are still behaving as such through Bright Home Offers. I really do not give a damn anymore whether we sell for full price or not
That HOA truly sounds awful. I hope she’s able to sell her house, but I feel bad for the new homeowners.
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Let’s see how Reddit responded to this story.
Here’s a suggestion I hope she takes seriously.
Another person has a question about the new rules.
This is good advice.
If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a family who finds a technicality in the law that allows them to keep their pool after their neighbors report it.
One person makes a good point.
The best way to change the HOA is to join the HOA. It’s the whole if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em mentality. I have read numerous stories about frustrated homeowners successfully changing the HOA rules by joining the HOA and working from the inside to bring the community back to where it should be.
That would be her best course of action. I hope she takes it. Otherwise, I feel sorry for whoever buys her house. This HOA sounds truly awful.
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