r/fuckHOA

My home was in my husband's family a long time before the sprawling jungle of semi-identical HOA controlled properties sprung up around it. Our property is permanently grandfathered out.

As part of their deal with the County they took over the previously-public road and built a diverted one around the estate. It was written into the contract with the county that we, subsequent owners and our guests would have a preserved right of access.

We've received notice the HOA we aren't even in intends to sue us for our share of replacing the now-delapidated road we never asked them to take control over.

So i am on my HOA architectural committee and I got a complaint that reads more like a joke than a serious concern, but I'm not sure.

The neighbor complained about a new structure built in the backyard of a neighbor. The structure was a sukkah for the 8 day holiday of Sukkot. After that, it is usually put away.

This seriously tracks a joke as below:

An observant Jew who lived on Park Avenue, built a Sukkah on his balcony.

Some of his 'high society' non-Jewish neighbors brought him to court. They claimed that the Sukkah on his balcony was an eyesore and was having a negative impact on the value of their homes in this posh neighborhood.

In court, the Jewish man was very worried about the outcome. It was the eve of the eight day holiday, leaving him no time to make alternative arrangements, in case the judge ordered him to take down the Sukkah.

He prayed for help. And Hashem listened.

Judge Ginsburg, who was Jewish himself, had a reputation of being a very wise man. After hearing both sides, he turned around to the observant Jew and scolded him: "Don't you realize that you live on Park Avenue, and not in Brooklyn? There is a certain decorum which is expected on Park Avenue. You have no right to be putting up a primitive hut on this lovely street without a building permit authorizing it. I hereby rule that either you remove the hut, or I will fine you one thousand dollars.

“You have exactly eight days to do so! Next case!"

I only ask because my HOA is fairly relaxed when it comes to parking pollution, house colors, street cleaning, dead grass etc.. They aren’t strict but they aren’t whatever goes either. I’ve never received a ticket for leaving a car parked on the street for 30+ days. My grass is always dead in some spots. My house color is white while the rest of the block is tan or orange looking. They still have protocols you have to follow for like remodeling and stuff but it feels like a gated public community. Never ran into any problems I’ve been here for 2 years now. My HOA is 110/m

Does anyone else have a story like this or am I just a 1 off the nobody ever sees? Reading some of the things on here I would def not want to live in a HOA if it wasn’t for mine.

My HOA is on my ass all the time and their excuse is "your house used to have bad owners previously." And "You're on a corner, so there's a higher expectation for you. You're one of the first houses the neighborhood sees!"

Examples of this include complaining that I don't mow my yard at least once a week, even when my yard doesn't call for it.

Attempting to fine me for my car "starting the 1st of July" when I didn't even buy the car until the 6th

Them telling me that this Monday my car will need to be gone or moved off the street or they'll start fining me despite the fact that everyone else gets to park on the street. My car isn't particularly beat up either. They just don't like my car.

They also told me I can't grow wildflowers in my backyard even if it's in a controlled section, like in the flowerbeds against my house, where everyone plants flowers anyway or in a pot because "it makes my yard look taller than it really is."

A lot of people on my street have privacy fences and I'm starting to see why. If I buy this house (I currently rent) I'm probably gonna do the same.

Needed to vent.