A FRUSTRATED homeowner slammed her HOA for fining her the minute she moved into her new home.
The new homeowner was ticketed over an issue with her driveway.
A homeowner was slammed with HOA fees because of an oil stain in her driveway[/caption]
The homeowner posted a viral video trying to clean the stain[/caption]
In the video, the TikToker (@luciferlovesmexx) is seen trying scrub out an oil stain in her driveway.
“When you buy a house [with an] oil stain in the driveway, not knowing the HOA was gonna immediately fine you for it and not even a power washer will get it up,” the in-video caption read.
The video has already garnered nearly 800,000 views, over 19,000 likes, and more than 1,000 comments.
The homeowner claims her HOA has been issuing fines because of the pesky oil stain, even though it was there before she moved in.
Essentially, an HOA, or Homeowners Association, manages and maintains common areas and amenities within a community.
The organization is allowed to enforce rules about property appearance and behavior, and collects fees to fund these activities.
It essentially acts as a governing body for a specific neighborhood or residential area, ensuring a consistent standard of living and property values.
Several TikTok users said they chose not to purchase their homes because of HOA fees that felt unnecessary and exorbitant.
“There was literally only 1 thing I cared about buying my house. No HOA,” one person commented.
“My daughter lives in an HOA community…they are now looking at buying a trailer on some old farm land just to get away from HOA,” another wrote.
The homeowner replied, saying, “It’s either a tweaker pad or trailer on 3 acres of land for 2 million dollars where I live.”
Many users were also debating whether an HOA has the authority to fine the homeowner for the oil spill if it was there before the house was purchased.
“Look at your closing paperwork,” one user advised.
“The HOA should have signed off on the sale, stating there were no outstanding issues/fines. If the oil stain was already there, then the HOA messed up, and they shouldn’t be able to fine you for it.”
HOA crackdowns in the US
States across the country are working to restrict the power of HOAs.
- In Minnesota, lawmakers introduced a bill that would require HOA boards to create a schedule of fines and fees and distribute it to homeowners; ensure homeowners can contest an HOA fine; provide reasonable time to correct rule violations; and outlaw the practice of charging homeowners for asking questions.
- In Arizona, lawmakers are cracking down on HOA budgets. Under a newly proposed law, HOA boards would have strict guidelines for how they approve expenses.
- In Florida, a bill was passed that restricts the amount of control HOAs have over tenants’ property. It also stops HOAs from fining homeowners for leaving trash cans out and holiday lights up.
- In Atlanta, bipartisan bills were introduced to reign in overly aggressive HOAs to protect homeowners.
- In California, a new bill requires HOA elections to be monitored and the board to comply with certain homeowner requests.
- In Colorado, new HOA rules require greater transparency between HOA board members and tenants.
- And the Federal Fair Housing Act sets housing standards for all homeowners, tenants, and landlords.
If you’re in this predicament, you might want to take care of the stain as soon as possible.
Thankfully, oil and fluid stains don’t have to be a permanent eyesore on your driveway.
Many can be removed with common household products, though it may take some trial and error to find what works best.
Try scrubbing with dish soap or a homemade paste, or use a degreaser to break down tougher spots.
According to Allstate, hot water is especially effective, helping lift oil from the concrete surface for a deeper clean.
Just keep in mind: the best method can vary depending on whether your driveway is concrete or asphalt, as each surface reacts differently to cleaning agents.
