A HOMEOWNER says he was fined more than $15,000 by his homeowners association over alleged rule violations – including installing a doorbell camera on his own home.
Bryan Mansfield, 56, a property management contractor and former on-site property manager, says the penalties ultimately forced him to sell his condo in Mentor, Ohio.
Bryan Mansfield claims that he was fined $15,000 by his homeowners association[/caption]
He said that he was dinged for multiple violations, including installing a Ring camera outside his Ohio townhouse[/caption]
Tensions rose after security footage allegedly showed a board member removing one of his cameras in 2022, prompting a visit from the police.
He claims the penalties escalated after a new board president took office and that a lien was filed the same day his home was set to close.
Mansfield claims many residents have relocated due to similar disputes over fines.
And the HOA now says it is reviewing finances amid alleged discrepancies.
“I was getting a letter almost every week – over $15,000 in fines,” Mansfield said.
“We had enough. So we decided to sell. I had enough. And I could see it was taking a toll on my elderly mother.”
He says that a $15,000 lien was placed on his condo the same day it was set to close.
“They timed it perfectly to sabotage the sale,” he said, noting he had to pay the lien for him to move, which was taken out of his sale. “My attorney was livid.”
Mansfield purchased his Meadowlawn Condominiums townhouse in 2009 for $85,000.
He says his disputes with the HOA began in 2019 and escalated when a new board president took office in 2021.
According to Mansfield, he was fined $50 per day for several alleged violations, including setting up an HOA Facebook page for the community, alleged harassment of the HOA board, and the use of a doorbell camera.
He added, “They were getting nowhere with fining me – they had to do something more drastic.
“I would have had to file a lawsuit, which would have taken two years. I never would have gotten out of there. It was eating at my mother, and we had to leave.”
In a 2022 incident, Mansfield stated that Ring camera footage captured an HOA board member removing a camera from his back door during a board meeting.
Mansfield said that residents wrote hate signs about him[/caption]
Mansfield is seen chatting with cops after he says his Ring camera was removed[/caption]
The HOA president told a board member to remove it in the process of the meeting, he says.
Mansfield contacted police, who recovered the device, he says.
“I called the police. They retrieved the camera, but said cameras weren’t allowed,” he said. “The fence is mine. There’s no rule against cameras.
“The HOA president admitted in a previous police report that over 20 residents have them.”
He later installed additional security cameras near his unit.
“This woman from the board was walking by six or seven times a day. Once she realized she was on camera, she stopped,” Mansfield said.
More hate signs targeting Mansfield[/caption]
DRAMA CONTINUES
According to a May 30 police report, HOA board members filed a report raising concerns about potential financial discrepancies in the association’s records.
They presented documents showing mismatched check numbers and cash deposits.
The police advised the board to compile complete financial records and consult with legal counsel.
No criminal charges have been filed.
Mansfield said, “We watched from afar over the next few years as over two-thirds of the owners would sell and move out after being victimized.”
In a statement, Meadowlawn Condominiums said: “At this preliminary stage of alleged allegations, an external review is being conducted by independent professionals.
“The board is adhering to legal counsel’s advice to verify the legitimacy of these claims, ensuring that owners are informed of the facts.
They added: “At this juncture, we cannot comment on speculations. Our course of action is to allow the facts to emerge and await the conclusions drawn from those facts.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out for an update on the incident.
