'Nightmare of an HOA,' fumes driver towed over item in her car

A RENTER was towed multiple times for petty reasons, costing her over $1,000 in towing fines - she was even towed on Christmas.

She was also told she couldn't communicate with the board because she's not a homeowner.

A renter took to Facebook to publicly discuss their issues with an HOA repeatedly towing their vehicle for petty reasonsCredit: GettyShe said the HOA has cost her over $1,000 in towing feesCredit: Getty

Emily Hicks, a Incline Village, Nevada resident, rents a home within an HOA subdivision that has been reportedly towing her vehicle for petty reasons.

In a recent Facebook post, she detailed having even been towed on Christmas after her vehicle was incorrectly classified.

"Out nightmare of an HOA," she wrote.

"Long story short, they keep wrongfully towing us. We have spent over $1,000 on tows."

Hicks wrote that she'd posted her woes in a different Facebook group for the community, and was told by the HOA leaders she wasn't allowed to "speak against the HOA" for a trivial reason.

"In another post, I was talking to the community about how they handle it because being a renter they continuously say I’m not allowed to contact, email, or speak out against the HOA for withholding our recent wrongful tow," she continued.

"Then the head of HOA blocked me from posting and then gaslit me in front of everyone in the community."

In a separate group, she started telling other community members about how the association worked and was blocked from that group, too.

"Since then she has blocked me from commenting or speaking with other residents," she wrote.

"Trying to silence me without saying I’m blocked or for what reason.

'Really frustrated,' says driver whose HOA banned him parking outside his home - they gave him permit then took it away

"I should be allowed to speak to other members in the community about how to handle money that was wrongfully withheld since April."

Further in the post, she wrote the HOA had her vehicle towed from in front of her house due to an aftermarket ladder being installed on it.

The ladder, according to the HOA violation, made it a "commercial" vehicle.

"They even towed me during Christmas my SUV for having a ladder on it," she wrote.

"They voted it a commercial tow because my [Nissan] Pathfinder had a ladder on it. Like, what?"

What is an HOA?

One in five Americans live in an area with a Homeowners' Association - or HOA. But what exactly is it that they do?

An HOA is a homeowner's association - an organization that aims to maintain a clean and cohesive place to live for its residents.
Entire neighborhoods, subdivisions, condominiums, family homes, or townhouses within "a planned development" will often make up an HOA.
They also act as a governing body for tenants, who run and fund the HOA through monthly fees.
Their principal aims are to keep the community functioning and visually appealing and to maintain property values.
They primarily focus on common areas of a neighborhood, such as roads, parks, and pools - but may also stipulate what residents can do with their properties, such as yards and driveways.
Often these restrictions enforce uniformity on properties, for example, ensuring most houses look the same and all driveways are clear of weeds.
An HOA rulebook of covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&R) is distributed to all residents, and an elected volunteer board of directors enforces these regulations.
Breaking these rules can result in penalties such as fines and even litigation - as most HOAs are incorporated and subject to state law.
HOAs are often the subject of controversy, with some members feeling that the rules are too punitive and restricting, or that the leadership has too much power.
But others like that HOAs give communities the power of self-governance, and can ensure a degree of harmony between residents.

She wrote the tow was $480.

The HOA president had apparently posted new rules and regulations for community members to follow on the dedicated Facebook page that she was blocked from posting on.

"Since then she posted her rules and regulations of Facebook and I messaged her asking what rule I broke to be suspended but she didn’t seem to know," she wrote.

Hicks said the mistreatment due to her renting status may be the last straw.

"So over this place and its weird people," she wrote.

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