A homeowner who joined their HOA board to curb petty behavior instead found themselves at the center of a fresh dispute after a neighbor complained about overgrown grass on a nearby property the board member said they do not even own.
Here's what to know
In a post shared on Reddit's r/f***HOA, the original poster said a friend of one board member sent "this lengthy email with pictures" about the adjacent property and argued that the poster should deal with it alone.
"How as a board member I should personally ensure that grass is cut or do it myself. Me, not the rest of the board, for property I don't own," they wrote.
The poster suggested the clash reflects broader tension within the HOA board rather than just a dispute over yard maintenance. They wrote, "I hate HOA so I joined mine to try and stop the shenanigans," adding, "One board member hates me and gets the other three to vote with him and god forbid I say anything negative about how incompetent the property [manager] is, I get berated."
In a reply, one commenter wrote, "Tell him you are raising dues to maintain the grass that is not yours."
More background
In many communities, the distinction between private property, shared property, and HOA responsibility should be clearly spelled out in governing documents. But when board politics become strained, residents can end up spending more time accusing one another than addressing the actual problem.
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In a reply, one user wrote, "You got on the board, now get some friends on it."
"It's tough. Every time a vacant seat comes up we select his friend not the most qualified candidate," the original poster responded.
What can be done?
The first step is often confirming who actually owns the property in question and what the HOA's bylaws say about maintenance. That can help prevent misplaced complaints and avoid unnecessary costs.
Written maintenance schedules, documented board votes, and clearly shared meeting minutes can make it harder for personal grudges to shape community decisions behind the scenes.
Residents who want change may also need to organize, especially if they believe a small group is controlling the board. Encouraging more neighbors to attend meetings, vote, or run for open seats can help shift the culture from reactive enforcement to practical stewardship.
Where can I learn more?
This kind of HOA fight is hardly unusual. Complaints about what's growing on a property often spiral into bigger arguments over authority, access, and who is actually responsible, as homeowners dealing with forests, native plantings, taller lawns, and even vegetable gardens have found.
• On Reddit, a homeowner said a neighbor complained to the HOA over a nearby forest.
• On Reddit, a homeowner prepared to challenge the HOA's complaint over their lawn.
• During No Mow May, one homeowner said their grass started a 'war' with neighbors.
• A frustrated homeowner said an HOA threatened them over a yard full of plants.
• Neighbors filed an HOA complaint after spotting a homeowner's vegetable garden.
Ordinary yard issues can turn personal fast when an HOA gets involved. That's why clear rules, documented ownership, and broader board participation matter so much when enforcement starts going sideways.
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