5 Must-Know Tips for Working with an HOA

If you’ve never lived in a community with a homeowner’s association, you’ll soon learn there are several rules of engagement that can affect your daily life. From where you park your vehicle to the type of fencing you can install, buying a home with an HOA means you’ll have to follow the guidelines they set.

“The primary focus of the HOA is to oversee the operations of a community or building,” says Sarkie Ampim, an agent with Coldwell Banker Warburg. HOAs are also responsible for maintaining certain components of a community using dues from its members. 

“This involves maintaining the upkeep so the community remains visually appealing, enforcing rules and regulations for residents to abide by so that the quality of life for each member is at a certain level, and creating a peaceful environment for residents,” Ampim says. “This, in a nutshell, helps the community to maintain a certain level of value.”

To help you navigate living in a neighborhood with an HOA, experts are sharing their best tips and suggestions.

What Is the Purpose of an HOA?

It might seem unnecessary to live in a community with its own set of rules and fees, but HOAs have several purposes aimed at making life easier for residents. “The primary purpose of an HOA is to govern the rights and obligations of the owners within the community,” says Shaun Pappas, managing partner at Starr Associates.

These rules are typically aimed at maintaining a visually appealing community, keeping homes safe and uniform, and usually offers shared amenities you might not otherwise be able to afford or maintain in your own home. 

“It is a valuable tool for community living reforms and empowers a ‘board’ to oversee general obligations of the owners with respect to maintenance, repairs, improvements and other issues related to their property and the common areas and amenities,” Pappas adds.

HOA boards are typically comprised of residents of the community who help set and enforce rules. They hold regular, public meetings to discuss budgets, violations and new rules. 

1. Pay Your Dues (on Time!)

One way to stay in line with your HOA is to pay dues on time, the same way you pay for your mortgage or utilities. “Living within a homeowners association does come with some financial obligations,” Pappas says. These dues can be nominal to high, but they’re easier to stomach when you remember what they’re for. 

“There are typically dues associated with the repair and maintenance of the common areas, and potential assessments to the extent the dues are not enough to cover any such repairs, maintenance or even improvements that are to be made,” Pappas adds. “Understanding the annual budget of the association and how that translates into your personal dues each month is very important.” 

2. Review the Rules—and Follow Them

Before purchasing a home within an HOA community, familiarize yourself with the current rules. “Before purchasing a home, the buyer should read through the policies and see if they are comfortable with the rules,” Ampim says. “If a homeowner isn’t sure about something, then they should reach out directly to the board for clarification to avoid any possible conflict.”

If you learn you’re in violation of a rule for the HOA, start by looking at your HOA’s bylaws. “The first step is to review the policies and make sure that the notice is valid. If it seems like it’s something that is unfair, you can contact the board and ask for clarification,” Ampim says. “If it’s something that you truly believe was an error, then you have the right to appeal it.”

A common rule many HOA residents fail to comprehend are rules about home rental. “A lot of people like to sublease and list their homes on Airbnb when they’re not in town, and unfortunately, this is something that HOAs are generally opposed to,” Ampim says. “Buyers that are interested in doing so should really review the policies closely.” 

Similarly, there are often several rules surrounding pets in an HOA community. “In addition, there are a lot of pet owners who should review the pet policies closely because there can be restrictions on pet sizes, breeds, and the number permitted per household,” Ampim adds.

3. Handle Neighbor Disputes Through the HOA

Have a problem with a neighbor, or want to report someone breaking a rule? Do it properly through your HOA. “Transparency is everything,” Pappas says. “When communicating with an HOA board you want to make sure that you are clear with what your issue or request is so that they have the ability to make decisions based on current facts and information. It should not be an adversarial relationship, they are there to help all owners of the community get the best out of their living in the community.”

And if you’re unclear on how the rules work, don’t get your information from neighbors. Go straight to the source. “I would speak with the board or managing agent to navigate the homeowners association rules,” Pappas adds. “The rules are there to protect all honors, and the board is the governing body charged with enforcing the rules. If there’s ambiguity or questions regarding following those rules, the owner should be able to get clarity directly from the board or the property management company.”

If attending a meeting or speaking to a board member one on one isn’t an option, send a note. You can always email the board so you have a record of the conversation.

4. Establish Rapport from the Beginning

One way to ensure smooth interactions with your HOA is to get off on the right foot. “Homeowners should create an open line of communication with the HOA,” Ampim says. “They should get involved and attend some meetings. This is good for moments when there are some regulations that you want changed. With some type of established relationship, it makes for an easier conversation to propose a reasonable compromise for restrictive rules.”

Another way to develop a good rapport with HOA officials is to attend meetings. “Homeowners who get involved and attend meetings are more likely to be informed of the rules and any rule changes that may occur,” Ampim says. 

5. Keep Tabs on the HOA

Just as you’re expected to follow the rules set forth by the HOA, it’s equally important that members of a community keep their HOA governing body in compliance. Don’t be afraid to ask for receipts: You are entitled to review the HOA budget to see how money is being spent.

Membership fees often fund HOA insurance, which helps pay for repairs on individual properties, such as broken fences or leaky roofs. Usually, an HOA has a limited number of items covered under the insurance, so it’s important to stay up to date on where your organization stands.