It’s one thing to have a horrible neighbor, and it’s another to have an HOA officer who is intent on making your life a living hell. The latter could be worse because they have more authority and could misuse it to their advantage.
This is exactly what this HOA president did when her attempts to bully a regulation-abiding couple failed miserably. As she became more vindictive and childish, the couple got back at her with some malicious compliance.
You will find the entire story below, along with some reactions from readers.
A power-tripping HOA officer could be slightly worse than a horrible neighbor
Image credits: Nathan Anderson (not the actual photo)
This couple would likely agree, given their experience with their HOA president
Image credits: GregorioCayuleo (not the actual photo)
Image source: anonymus
The relationship between HOAs and homeowners is at its worst
Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)
Experts have noted a worsened relationship between the HOA and residents. It’s likely why we’ve been seeing a lot of these stories lately.
According to a 2022 Gallup poll, only 27% of Americans are confident in institutions and have almost zero trust in figures of authority.
According to Charlotte real estate attorney James Galvin, that fractured relationship, “mirrors the lack of social trust that exists in society in general.”
Common points of dispute between the HOA and the homeowner include discrimination, failure to comply with requests, and violations. These also seemed to be the points of contention among Joan, Liz, and Dave.
Documentation, reviewing governing documents, and seeking legal action (when necessary) are the usual tips HOA lawyers like Manning & Meyers would give. Liz and Dave did all of those. They played by the rules and went through proper legal procedures.
Unfortunately for them, they were dealing with a vindictive, childish HOA president, and it was becoming a losing battle. Their act of malicious compliance was a way of standing up for themselves without hostility and causing more conflict. If anything, they handled it well.
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