HOA Tried To Punish Homeowners, Regrets It Big Time

In this Reddit story, OP installed cameras in front of their home, partially overlooking neighbors’ properties. The HOA, particularly a board member named Karen, objected and claimed a bylaw violation, leading to a prolonged legal battle costing the HOA over $4,000 in lawyer fees. OP, determined to cost the HOA time and money, successfully postponed the hearing multiple times and eventually removed the cameras to avoid fines. After challenging the HOA at an annual meeting, they installed new cameras on a post, circumventing the prior admonishment that prohibited cameras “on their home.” Despite a letter from the HOA demanding removal, OP kept the cameras after asserting their willingness to fight. The cameras on the post have remained in place for over two years. The HOA’s attempt to suppress the costs by disguising the lawyer fees as “Title searches” was revealed during the annual meeting, leading to changes on the board.

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Years ago, OP installed cameras in front of their home, which partially overlooked two neighbors’ properties.

The battery-operated cameras had a “gray out” feature to avoid filming certain areas, including the neighbors’ properties and bushes on our own property.

One neighbor, a friend, had no issues with the cameras overlooking her property, even though OP left it grayed out for battery life concerns.

The other neighbor, who happened to be on the HOA board and named Karen, was informed about the camera and its grayed-out areas in an FYI conversation, though we weren’t on friendly terms.

After hanging up the cameras, she demanded their immediate removal, and soon after, the HOA cited a “nuisance to your neighbors” bylaw as the reason for the violation notice.

OP’s goal was to cause financial strain to the HOA, and we succeeded by costing them over $4,000 in legal fees within four months, an unprecedented move in the community.

OP delayed the official HOA hearing three times with the help of an attorney friend, engaging in over 100 email exchanges with the HOA attorney, causing significant expenses for them.

To avoid fines, they removed the cameras on the day of the hearing, and although the HOA found them guilty, they couldn’t impose a fine since the cameras were already taken down.

Received a stern letter stating we couldn’t place cameras on our home that might invade neighbor’s privacy, despite cameras not being on our home.

After keeping the cameras off for four months, they confronted the HOA Board at the annual meeting about the hidden $4,000 attorney fees under “Title searches,” exposing their attempt to disguise the cost of the camera battle.

Soon after the annual meeting, they installed new cameras on a post facing the same direction, following the admonishment that prohibited cameras “on our home” but not on a post.

A stern response to their letter stopped further attempts to make us remove the cameras; the cameras on the post have remained in place for over 2 years.