# Americans: explain this story to me about HOAs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 29, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204 "2010-05-29T17:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204/101 "2010-07-04T16:08:58Z")
> [@barbitu8](#): > > In a condo development, this is necessary. **A condo development should have a uniform look**. However, in our development, we have authorized a scheme of different colors (approved by the Board and the Council) as well as given permission for different looking decks. Bolding added. Ah. Let freedom ring! As long as you have permission, of course. Tris ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204/102 "2010-07-04T18:55:56Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > The need to maintain commonly owned property is not inevitably connected to restrictions on individually owned property. Eh, they take care of my property, too- trim my trees, shape the hedges, etc. I mean, I could of course hire a tree trimmer and gardener, but this way it doesn’t even have to cross my mind. Or, if I’ve got a neighbor being a douche and parking where they shouldn’t, throwing parties all the time, making a meth lab, whatever- well, I don’t have to deal with it. I don’t even have to complain, its taken care of before I even can complain (admittedly, this might have something to do with the fact that I live on a cul de sac w/ the President of the board). So yes, I’ve gotten a few threatening letters of stupid shit (the aforementioned bucket in planter incident), but it all was easily taken care of. So, on balance, I’d say I prefer my HOA to not. Granted, there are much much worse out there, but there ya go. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204/103 "2010-07-04T19:59:26Z")
> [@Triskadecamus](#): > > Bolding added. > > Ah. Let freedom ring! As long as you have permission, of course. > > Tris But this is the whole point of a condo development. Uniform appearance. If you don’t want an HOA, at the very least don’t buy a condo. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204/104 "2010-07-04T20:01:48Z")
> [@In\_Winnipeg](#): > > Sorry, but I don’t really get this whole HOA thing. It just seems like a way for some vest-pocket Hitler to tell me what I can/can’t do with my own property. I find it funny that a people (i.e., Americans) that are so gung-ho over “freedom” would be willing to allow someone to tell them what to do in their own yards. Condos in Canada have HOAs as well. I used to live in one in Montreal. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204/105 "2010-07-04T20:35:56Z")
> [@In\_Winnipeg](#): > > Sorry, but I don’t really get this whole HOA thing. It just seems like a way for some vest-pocket Hitler to tell me what I can/can’t do with my own property. I find it funny that a people (i.e., Americans) that are so gung-ho over “freedom” would be willing to allow someone to tell them what to do in their own yards. In a condo, you don’t have a yard. Although some may call it their yard, it is part of the common elements. Every parcel of land comes with restrictions. Foremost are zoning ordinances (residential, commercial, mixed-use, etc.), building set-back lines, and other ordinances. Many parcels also contain covenants and restrictions of record, running with the land, which in many cases are similar to the same limitations found in a home owners’ association. I think Canada would have similar municipal ordinances and restrictions of record. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204/106 "2010-07-04T20:51:24Z")
> [@Triskadecamus](#): > > Bolding added. > > Ah. Let freedom ring! As long as you have permission, of course. > > Tris Yup, we have the freedom to buy a place with an HOA or not… ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204/107 "2010-07-04T21:22:51Z")
Okay, I can understand a Condo authority, especially since a Condo is really a single building. I thought what was being spoken about was those “gated communities” where they seem to have all kinds of rules about such things as type of Christmas decorations you can put up, whether you can have a basketball hoop on your garage, etc. I believe there was an X-Files episode about the anality of the gated community. Here, in a regular neighbourhood, if you have a complaint about something a neighbour is doing, you call a by-law enforcement officer. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204/108 "2010-07-04T22:19:14Z")
That is what we’re talking about. The condo issue is a red herring. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204/109 "2010-07-04T22:54:43Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Eh, they take care of my property, too- trim my trees, shape the hedges, etc. I mean, I could of course hire a tree trimmer and gardener, but this way it doesn’t even have to cross my mind. In most HOA communities I know of (at least those made up primarily of single-family, stand-alone dwellings) you still have to take care of those things yourself, at least on your own property. Yours must be an exception. > [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Or, if I’ve got a neighbor being a douche and parking where they shouldn’t, throwing parties all the time, making a meth lab, whatever- well, I don’t have to deal with it. I don’t even have to complain, its taken care of before I even can complain (admittedly, this might have something to do with the fact that I live on a cul de sac w/ the President of the board). If my neighbor is doing anything illegal, I call the cops on him. If he’s just doing assholish things, I go over and talk to him. Not that I’ve had those problems, but that’s pretty what I would do if I did. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204/110 "2010-07-05T00:57:52Z")
My HOA community is a mixture of single units, duplexes, and townhouses, each of which pay different dues, have different responsibilities, and receive different services. I own half of a duplex, and the HOA takes care of the lawn care on my property, cleans the gutters, and is responsible for upkeep of the exterior and roof of my unit. I have to get approval for any changes to the landscaping in the front, such as planting or removing trees or other plantings. From what I’ve seen and heard at the HOA meetings the committee is pretty laid back, so I’m not terribly concerned about being dictated to. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204/111 "2010-07-05T04:08:09Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > If my neighbor is doing anything illegal, I call the cops on him. If he’s just doing assholish things, I go over and talk to him. Not that I’ve had those problems, but that’s pretty what I would do if I did. Sure and in the past, I’ve done both of these things. All I’m saying is: it’s kind of nice not to have to do that now. Personal preferences and all that jazz. Oh and for what it’s worth: I live in one of those gated communities **In Winnipeg** mentioned. No X Files going on though :). ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204/112 "2010-07-05T13:07:43Z")
> [@Happy\_Poster](#): > > Ah a bit like a Residents’ Association in the UK. > > Here is my last communication I received from one in London: [ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](http://img189.imageshack.us/i/thingforstraightdope.png/) > > Extremely uncommon for these to apply to houses though in my experience. Did you apologise for verbally abusing them? ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204/113 "2010-07-05T13:15:31Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > In most HOA communities I know of (at least those made up primarily of single-family, stand-alone dwellings) you still have to take care of those things yourself, at least on your own property. Yours must be an exception. It just depends. My mom lives in half of a duplex with a HOA that takes care of exterior paint, roofs, common areas and lawn care. She loves it and is especially glad she will live her when she retires. She saw how much my great-grandmother struggled to deal with this stuff as she got older, and is sure that her HOA will help her be independent as long as possible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-explain-this-story-to-me-about-hoas/541204.md?page=5)