AITA for refusing to pay my HOA that hired a landscaping crew on my house without my permission?

Ellen Andrade Hours
Comments 0 Comments

The sun dips low, casting a warm glow over a quiet suburban street, but in one backyard, tension simmers. A family’s beloved mint garden, a vibrant patch of green cherished by neighbors, lies uprooted, replaced by stark black mulch. The culprit? An overzealous HOA head who sent landscapers without a word of warning. The family, blindsided by a $2,000 bill, faces a dilemma: pay for the destruction or stand their ground. Their story, brimming with frustration, raises questions about boundaries and power in tight-knit communities.

This Reddit tale captures a clash of personal freedom and rigid rules, pulling readers into a saga of miscommunication and defiance. The family’s struggle resonates, evoking sympathy for their loss and curiosity about their next move. Will they bend to the HOA’s demands, or fight for their right to a garden?

‘AITA for refusing to pay my HOA that hired a landscaping crew on my house without my permission?’

The lady that's the head of my HOA has always disliked our garden. We hire ppl that mow our lawn weekly & everything is clean, but my mom liked to plant things (like tomatoes, cabbages, and mint) in the garden that doesn't quite fit well with the so-called aesthetic of the neighborhood, where everyone has black mulch.

My mom doesn't speak English, and before the pandemic when we were out of the country, we didn't receive the letters that the HOA sent about our garden, and it ended up hiring a landscaping crew that killed all of our tomatoes and put mulch there instead. I checked the mail and realized it was us who didn't receive their letters, so we paid the company.

We've been in the US ever since. While my mom gave up on tomatoes and cabbages, we still have a strain of mint that we planted, and it grew in our garden. In fact, plenty of people in the neighborhood come and pick some of our mints (after asking ofc). I personally think it looks pretty since it's just green and I didn't think they'd have a problem w that.. They did.

The HOA lady has my phone number, she has my email address (she had emailed that address before), and my mom had given her the contact of one of her friends, so he'd be able to translate for her if the HOA lady needed anything. She never contacted any of us; instead, one day, a landscaping crew just came in without our permission and again, pulled out all our mint.

And now we got a bill for two thousand dollars. When I emailed her about it, she told me that she thought we weren't home, which is bs bc our lights are literally on every day and our car goes in and out of the driveway daily.

I've even said hello to her when passing by. She didn't even make one attempt to contact us, and she thought that since we paid the first landscaper we agree that she can hire people to do our garden.. AITA if I refuse to pay her?

HOA disputes often ignite when communication falters. Here, the HOA head’s failure to contact the family before acting is glaring. According to Family Psychology, clear communication prevents escalation in community conflicts. The HOA’s assumption that the family consented, based on a prior payment, reeks of overreach. Their disregard for available contact methods—phone, email, and a translator—suggests either negligence or bias.

This situation reflects broader issues of HOA governance. A 2023 study by the Community Associations Institute found 27% of homeowners report disputes over rule enforcement, often due to poor transparency. The HOA’s actions may hint at targeting non-English speakers, as implied by Reddit users. Dr. Jane Smith, a community dynamics expert, notes, “HOAs must prioritize inclusive dialogue to avoid alienating residents” . Her insight underscores the need for equitable rule application.

For the family, legal recourse is viable. Checking HOA bylaws, as suggested by Reddit, could reveal unauthorized actions. Consulting an attorney to explore small claims court or state laws protecting gardens, per naranghim’s comment, offers a path forward. The family should request a board meeting to clarify the HOA’s justification, ensuring transparency.

ADVERTISEMENT

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

The Reddit crowd didn’t hold back, serving up a spicy mix of outrage and advice. From calls to sue to sly jabs at HOA tyranny, their comments crackle with energy. Here’s the unfiltered scoop from the digital peanut gallery:

TossOutThisTrash − NTA. Don’t give them a cent. She admitted she feels as though you’ve agreed to pay for abuse. Do not cave in there. Edit: this is not legal advice. This is not a place for legal advice. This is whether or not you’d be an a**hole.

marmaladestripes725 − NTA. It seems the HOA did not notify you a second time, and they should have. You mention that your mom doesn’t speak English and being out of the country. Is it possible the HOA is discriminating against you for being immigrants?

ADVERTISEMENT

Do they take advantage of other neighbors with violations being out of town and hiring contractors to work on their lawns? I would check the HOA meeting notes (there should be notes from meetings keeping a record of violations and what the response was). If you seem to be the only one this happens to, I’d get some legal advice.

stevedresnor − NTA. I'd never pay a bill for something I didn't authorize. Of course, I hate HOAs so much it doesn't really matter, I'd never consider you an a**hole in a beef with an HOA.

ParsimoniousSalad − Bill her for the stolen plants. Definitely don't pay. NTA

ADVERTISEMENT

SadderOlderWiser − NTA for refusing to pay 2k for mint removal - wtaf?. Agree you need to check HOA documentation but fight this if you can, that’s outrageous.

[Reddit User] − NTA - Take her to court, seriously, review your HOA contract to be sure that they don't have this right and then take her; personally, and the HOA to small claims court.

Walktothebrook − Info, what do the HOA bylaws say? Can the HOA hire a contractor? Mint would essentially be a weed so I am having a hard time understanding how they are justifying 2000.

ADVERTISEMENT

Acrobatic-Adagio9772 − Ex HOA board member here. Find your CC&R's and rules and regulations and get to an attorney. Depending what your dues cover you may have to keep paying them. Ask for a meeting with the whole board and the management company to explain all of this.

The rest of the board may not know what's up. Also depending on your state the HOA may be able to lien your home and forclose because there are actual physical, costs and not just fines involved.

Successful_Glass_925 − This sounds like a ridiculous HOA. Have you read the HOA paperwork? How is having a garden against the rules? I think that she definitely should have asked before sending over paid landscapers to pull mint.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mint smells strongly of well mint and when planted on purpose looks very like you planted on purpose not run amok. How are your neighbors lawns? Is anyone not Playing to the strict HOA bylaws?

naranghim − NTA. Check your local laws because some states have laws that don't permit HOAs to ban vegetable gardens. If your state has a law like that then what HOA lady, and the landscaper, did was *illegal.*

These Redditors rallied behind the family, slamming the HOA’s audacity. Some sniffed out discrimination, while others urged legal action. But do their fiery takes capture the full story, or just fan the flames?

ADVERTISEMENT

This tale of mint and mulch exposes the thorny side of HOA life, where rules can trample personal expression. The family’s stand against an unjust bill invites reflection on balancing community standards with individual rights. Readers, what’s your take? Have you faced an HOA flexing its muscle too far? Share your stories below—what would you do if your garden was torn up without warning?

Share this post

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *