Phone records are at the center of a Nevada homeowners association billing fight after a homeowner said they found no evidence of calls a management company claims it made before street-side water work that led to a $6,800 charge.
The homeowner said the repairs were done in April in front of the property and that an email about the charge arrived after the work was finished.
Here's what to know
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the owner said the HOA gave no advance notice before billing them $6,800 for the April water repair.
The homeowner said this was not the first time they had dealt with this kind of problem. In a similar situation, they obtained competing estimates and found a company whose bid was 40% lower than the contractor the association had been using.
"Naturally, I was flabbergasted as I was never told in advance about the repairs and the cost of the repairs," the homeowner wrote. The homeowner also said they offered to pay $4,000, roughly 40% less than the amount requested.
The owner said the board heard the matter in a session that was not open to other residents, then decided the full charge would still stand.
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Another point of disagreement is whether the company attempted to notify the homeowner by phone. The management company reportedly said it called before the work and again after it was done, but the homeowner said records for both dates show no calls from the company.
More background
Barbara Holland, CPM, CMCA, AMS, an author, educator, and expert witness on real estate management and brokerage issues, addressed the issue by citing Nevada law, the Review-Journal reported.
Holland pointed to NRS 116.31085(4), which says these types of board hearings are generally conducted in executive session. However, if the owner submits a written request to open the hearing, the board must hold it at a public meeting.
She also said the homeowner is entitled to inspect the water repair invoice. That review could show whether labor, materials, or time made the $6,800 charge higher than the other repair.
What can be done?
Holland said the homeowner's first practical step is to inspect the invoice and compare it with records from the other repair. She also advised reviewing the community's CC&Rs and bylaws to determine what kind of notice the association was required to provide before charging the owner.
Holland noted, "Often a repair due to an emergency must be immediately addressed, consequently, bids may not be possible."
For homeowners dealing with bigger rule disputes, including fights over what HOAs can restrict, it may also help to learn more about working with HOAs.
Holland outlined a costly final path forward: "Your last options are to file a complaint with the Nevada Real Estate Division before filing a suit in civil small claims where you would first need to pay the full amount to the association and sue for the difference."
Where can I learn more?
HOA repair bill disputes often turn on who was responsible, what notice was given, and how the final charge was calculated, as these stories spotlight.
• A homeowner said a leaking pipe dispute with the HOA kept driving bills higher.
• In Las Vegas, tree-root plumbing damage triggered a $15,000 fight with the HOA.
• Another owner said unexpected gas leak repairs sparked a $4,000 battle over HOA responsibility.
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