I didn’t pay my $800 HOA fees – I didn’t know it could have drastic consequences

Aggressive homeowners associations are so notorious that they’ve even been featured in classic TV dramas like Desperate Housewives.

When new residents Bob and Lee decided to install a water sculpture at their home on idyllic Wisteria Lane, they had no idea the chaos they would unleash on their local homeowners association.

However, for many people in Georgia, the nightmares of forced sales and aggressive dictates of such associations are not fiction.

Homeowners’ Associations (VvE’s) are intended to oversee the general maintenance of the neighborhood, using a sum of money consisting of contributions from residents in the neighborhood.

For example, they clear away a fallen tree, clean public facilities such as swimming pools or ensure that the neighbourhood looks tidy by keeping an eye on gardens.

Jewel Inostroza was stunned to discover that the previous owners of her new home in Newnan, Georgia, had left tens of thousands of dollars in fees to the local homeowners association, which now fell to her.

The Desperate Housewives Are Shocked By The Ugly Water Feature On Wisteria Lane

Karyn Gibbons was forced to foreclose on her home despite always paying her bills on time

Jewel Inostroza (right) discovered she was responsible for the unpaid costs of the previous owners

Inostroza went to court, paid what she thought she owed, but was still left with a bill for tens of thousands of dollars, Realtor.com reported.

Tricia Quigley told the website about her Cherokee County, Georgia, home that sold for just $3.24 on the courthouse steps. She refused to pay an $800 homeowners association fee because she was frustrated with the billing process.

Quigley discovered that the bill had quickly risen to $10,000 due to late payment and attorney fees.

When she could no longer cope, her house was sold.

“They just showed up and threw all my stuff on the lawn,” she said.

Homeowners’ associations (VvEs) have the legal right to seize property, garnish wages and turn off water if the owners are in arrears with payments.

Another Georgia homeowner, James McAdoo of South Fulton, claims he must file for bankruptcy to keep his homeowners association from garnishing his wages after he was warned about weeds in his lawn.

Despite the bankruptcy, McAdoo still owes the association $36,000.

Others had trouble with the bureaucracy, like Karyn Gibbons, who told Realtor.com that she received a foreclosure notice on her home even though she always paid her HOA dues on time.

Gibbons said her local association in Gwinnett County often cashed her checks late or not at all, leaving her $30,000 in late fees and attorney fees.

Georgia lawmakers plan to take action on behalf of their constituents and their HOA horror stories.

Senator Donzella James is committed to limiting the power of homeowners associations in Georgia.

Democrat Senator Donzella James has teamed up with Republican Matt Brass to take on HOAs

Homeowners’ associations (VvEs) have the legal right to seize property, garnish wages and turn off the water of owners who are in arrears.

James told Realtor.com that she seriously investigated the issue after hearing from constituents who had been evicted from their homes because they received fines and penalties for having grass on their lawns longer than four inches or for having their sheds painted the wrong color.

“What starts as a $200 fine can quickly add up to $5,000,” James, a Democrat, told the publication.

And once [HOAs] “If you get a $4,000 fine, they can sell your house on the courthouse steps,” she explained.

James has joined forces with Rep. Matt Brass to introduce a bill that would stop fines imposed after homeowners pay off their HOA debt.

The proposed legislation would also force VvE boards to meet regularly, keep minutes of their meetings and have a transparent voting process.

“It’s tragic. We’re talking about people losing generational wealth because someone doesn’t mow their lawn. It’s mind-boggling,” Brass said.