Social Issues,SocietyJUN 11, 2026

Man Hires A Lawyer After HOA Tries To Force Him To Join, The Investigation Takes An Unexpected Turn

HOAs are the Karens of the homeownership world. At least that's what it seems like online, where we're bombarded with stories about homeowners being harassed by HOAs they don't even belong to. 65% of new homes were built in HOA communities in 2026, and an increasing number of homeowners have to deal with the troubles that come with them.

This gentleman lived next to an HOA, and they tried to scam him about the community's well. Since he wasn't a member of the association, they demanded he pay a "special allowance" to access it or have his water supply cut off. But the guy wasn't a fool: he lawyered up and soon discovered that the HOA lied about taking over the well.

A community well caused some drama between a homeowner and an HOA, of which he was not a member

Image credits: SK Strannik (not the actual photo)

The HOA reached out to the homeowner, demanding he pay a "special allowance" to access the well

Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

Image credits: gilliganssyrup

A slight majority of HOA residents would rather not live in HOA communities

This story might be a classic example of why people don’t want to belong to HOAs. People associate homeownership with freedom: no more “landlord specials,” others dictating how your garden or the interior of your house has to look, and bending to someone else’s rules in general.

HOAs take away that kind of freedom, and people’s disillusionment with HOAs is growing. In a 2023 YouGov survey, 61% of Americans claimed they would rather live in a neighborhood without an HOA, and 49% of those who do would prefer not to.

People are more likely to say that HOAs have a negative rather than a positive effect on neighborhoods. Many believe HOA rules are too restrictive, and people complain about more than just what color you can and can’t paint your mailbox. Common complaints about HOAs include overly restrictive rules about noise levels, trash and recycling bins, and parking. Residents would like HOAs to have looser rules on yard signs, fences, landscaping, pets, paint colors, home renovations, and holiday decorations, too.

On average, American families pay $200-$300 per month to their HOA. However, not everyone agrees that the associations use their money transparently. In fact, 43% of Americans think their HOA is handling their finances improperly, according to a survey by Rocket Mortgage. Some residents feel they don’t have much say in how finances are handled and would like to be more involved in decision-making, while others don’t feel they get their money’s worth.

Image credits: Avi Waxman (not the actual photo)

Some HOAs are beneficial, but there’s no guarantee they’ll always stay that way

So, what’s the good side of belonging to an HOA? The truth is that they can be pretty great, but, as one commenter in another Reddit thread notes, when they’re bad, they’re really horrible. “You could get a great HOA. You could get a horrid one. Your previously great HOA could turn horrid real fast and vice versa,” they wrote.

They’re right; there are certain benefits of belonging to an HOA:

Amenities that residents might not otherwise be able to afford. These might include pools, parking garages, playgrounds, etc.
Conflicts with neighbors are easier to solve. If you have a loud neighbor, the HOA has the means to keep them in check. The same goes for when your neighbor decides to cut a tree that belongs to you, keeps bumping your mailbox in your driveway, or owns 100 cats.
HOAs provide property maintenance services. If you live in an HOA community, you don’t have to be handy, “know a guy,” or call a contractor every time a pipe bursts or there’s a hole in your roof that needs patching. An HOA-hired contractor can clean your gutters and mow your lawn, and the HOA dues are oftentimes cheaper than hiring help yourself.
They can increase property value. "You could have the most stunning house on the block," says Denver-based real estate agent Crystalle Guss. "But if your neighbor’s front yard looks a mess, that will largely impact the perceived value."

In the end, each HOA is different, and there’s no guarantee that a good one will stay that way forever. Agreeing to join an HOA can be a gamble, and in this story, it’s clear that the father dodged a bullet by sticking to his guns.