Georgia HOA told residents to fight a new bill but one neighbor uncovered a hidden motive

For the longest time, the HOA has been the neighborhood's boogeyman across the country, more famous for measuring grass blades with rulers than actually helping residents. Similarly, when a management company across Georgia blasted out a panicked "call to act" against SB406 (Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act), a homeowner (u/kyosji) learned of its potential threat and ultimately exposed the association to the public. They shared the incident on April 23.

The HOA's struggle to remain in power

The HOA association was visibly worried about the new Senate bill SB406. So worried, in fact, that they tricked the homeowners into believing that the new law would increase monthly dues and result in more fines. The smart homeowner, however, did not buy their claims and decided to investigate further. "I Googled up SB406... and this thing is great. [It] requires the HOA to file with the state annually (only $100 a year, so not seeing where that raise in dues is coming from), and if they don't file, they can't collect dues, issue fines, foreclose, or put liens on houses," they added. Not just that, they'll also need to send all the governing documents and detailed reports of all costs and fines so they can be reviewed at the time of dispute.

Moreover, the new rule allows the HOA to foreclose if the homeowner owes at least $4,000 in unpaid dues, which previously was only $2,000. It also increased the notice for foreclosures. This means that the association is bound to inform the homeowners about it three months before starting the process. SB406 holds the HOA accountable and requires them to hold 10 years of financials that are accessible for any member to view. It gives homeowners a far better way to dispute HOA claims that's not directly through them, so they can't play favorites, and filing a dispute with the state will pause the collection of the fines and fees while the case is being reviewed. It just goes on for great protection for homeowners and reduces former abusive practices by the HOA and management company.

To put it simply, the HOA was scared that it would lose its power if the new bill were passed. When the author uncovered the real motive, they immediately exposed the association in the homeowners' Facebook group. 

People regret buying into the HOA

Nonetheless, this type of behavior from the HOA is quite typical. Although the homeowners' associations were designed to protect property values and maintain neighborhood standards, they have become a source of daily stress for residents. A survey by Platinum Home Builders & Design, Inc., revealed that nearly two-thirds (64%) of homeowners in HOA-governed communities said the association causes them stress. This includes 17% who report frequent, high, or extreme stress that affects their mood or mental well-being. 

Unsurprisingly, it's the younger homeowners who report the highest dissatisfaction, with nearly 52% of the respondents saying that they regret their HOA purchase, and 55% admitting that they've broken HOA rules. So, no wonder people in the comments of this Reddit post were siding with the homeowner, as they extended their support toward the residents. 

Meanwhile, reacting to the Reddit post, u/edith_keelers_shoes commented, "That's slimy. The creation of a federal oversight agency is not going to affect anyone's dues. Classic fearmongering." u/born-lie8688 said, "Don’t see how it would cost more. They should already be keeping these records. But no more loosey goosey. They hold you accountable. Someone needs to hold them accountable."

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