HOA tried to make a new homeowner pay nearly $8,000 owed by the previous owner. A lawyer spotted something off — and went after the HOA in court
Tatiana Pimentel had no idea of the administrative nightmare she was getting into
The quiet joy that comes with buying your first home is something everyone should be able to experience. However, that happiness faded away for Tatiana Pimentel and her fiancé, Obren Cicmil, after the HOA slapped them with an $8,000 foreclosure notice because of the past-due fees left behind by the previous owner of their DeKalb County home. Left with nowhere to turn, Pimentel and her partner faced losing everything until volunteer attorney Candace Sneed stepped in after spotting discrepancies across the board's ledgers, as reported by Atlanta News First (@AtlantaNewsFirst) on August 27, 2026, in a clip that has been viewed over 439,500 times.
Hidden debt surfaces
When Pimentel poured her life savings into buying herself and her fiancé a Whitehall Forest home, she had no idea she was stepping into an administrative mess left behind by someone else. That only came to light after she moved in, as she was handed an $8,000 foreclosure notice over unpaid dues by the previous owner. This was a debt she had no idea about. To make matters worse, her house was surrounded by overflowing trash bins and broken amenities. No one was ready to take responsibility, so she decided to withhold the dues while pleading for clear answers.
A lawyer steps in
For the next few months, Pimentel and her partner wandered around the city trying to find a lawyer to defend their case. However, the search yielded no results. But just as they were about to give up, Sneed saw their case. She then immediately picked it up and noticed that the board's accounting simply didn't add up. The DeKalb Pro Bono attorney then took on the case, arguing, "It's impossible that an owner could lose her home related to HOA assessments she's never heard of." Even though Pimentel set aside a $9,600 title insurance check as a good-faith payment, the association claimed the amount due was $20,000, forcing the couple to demand a trial to protect their home.
Cracks in the board
As the case headed to the courtroom, it shed light on the community's deeper troubles. Most of these issues stemmed from one man, Dean Heard, the president of the board. Upon further investigation, Heard conceded that he wasn't elected as the president, but rather took over after the last president was accused of diverting funds into his personal account. Defending the condition of the community, he said, "60% of the homeowners don't pay their dues." He further explained how the community's water bill had crossed a whopping $5.1 million because of the same.
In the meantime, Pimentel pushed the HOA for more transparency. "I've sent multiple emails asking for the accounting, the books, the bylaws... I'm not seeing what you're doing with my money." That being said, it's worth noting that Heard owns two properties in the community but doesn't live in any of them. Also, the police have responded to both addresses at least 26 times for a variety of reasons, from health crises to suicide threats.
A broken system
Sneed revealed that Georgia's new HOA laws, designed to rein in abusive HOA fines and mandate clear financial reports, will bring an end to these cases. However, she stated, "not soon enough to impact Miss Pimentel, but hopefully for the next [homeowner]," with the new rules not taking full effect until January 2027. So, for now, Pimentel and her fiancé are standing at a critical crossroads, counting the days until their late-September court date to find out whether they'll be able to keep their home or not.
HOA costs are rising everywhere
Pimentel and her partner's story showcases just how rising HOA fees are impacting homeowners. 82% of homeowners across the United States report that their fees have climbed in the last three years or so, according to a LendingTree survey. This includes a striking 44% of owners who believe the rise was significant. Meanwhile, 5% said living in an HOA community had made their lives worse.
All we needed to know
The people, in the meantime, are furious about how Pimentel has been treated throughout this case thus far. @kjdnyhmghfvb pointed out, "The 'president' of the HOA owns 2 properties there, and doesn't live there...all we need to know." At the same time, @KatrinaRoseT suggested, "There needs to be a law that an HOA cannot seize assets for HOA fines. That will stop the racket they’ve got going on."
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