When you’ve tried diplomacy and pretty much everything else you can think of to get along with a person or an organization, sometimes, the only thing left in your arsenal is malicious compliance, aka following the rules to the letter. The results are spectacular when people who think they know the rules suddenly realize that they’ve been interpreting them wrong for ages.

Homeowners associations can be particularly tough to deal with because they’re usually very demanding and aren’t always well-stocked in the empathy and common sense departments. Redditor u/Independent-Grape586, a car collector, shared what happened once their HOA tried to limit the number of vehicles allowed in a person’s driveway. The story spans over a year and it’s living proof that if you know the law well, you can come out on top.

Scroll down for the redditor’s full story on the legendary r/MaliciousCompliance subreddit, and let us know what you thought in the comments, Pandas. Would you have done anything differently? Have you ever had any disagreements with your local HOA? Let us know! Meanwhile, check out what redditor u/Independent-Grape586 told Bored Panda below.

One of the best ways to deal with overly-intrusive homeowners associations is to know the law better than they do

Image credits: Ravi Patel (not the actual photo)

A car collector shared how they beat their HOA at their own game by following the rules to the letter

Image credits: Jimmy Conover (not the actual photo)

Redditor u/Independent-Grape586 told Bored Panda that after they’d finally beaten their HOA at their own game, they “just went back to living” their life.

Meanwhile, when it comes to dealing with homeowners associations and getting along with one’s neighbors, the OP had this to say: “Don’t makes assumptions on what the rules mean. They mean what they say,” they told us.

“Your neighbors agreed to the same rules. Some will likely benefit from a true understanding of them,” the author of the story highlighted the importance of knowing the rules in and out.

The OP also shared a bit about the importance of cars in their life. “Cars are just a part of who I am. Some people paint. Some garden. I build cars,” they told Bored Panda.

“The best way to start a collection is to start small. I build my cars one at a time and I don’t spend money buying more cars before a project is finished,” u/Independent-Grape586 said.

“Once finished, don’t sell it. You’ll likely lose money anyways, as the cars an average person can afford to buy cheap and rebuild don’t end up being worth what you had to invest to complete the project.”

The OP’s tale is one of cunning and victory. They proved that their knowledge of the rules trumped that of their homeowners association.

After following the law to the letter, the redditor got their own neighbors to get the HOA to change the driveway regulations to match something resembling common sense. And all it took was a few strategic car parks. All of it was worth it: now, the OP is officially allowed to have as many registered vehicles as they’d like. They’re even thinking of getting a few more cars!

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The first and probably most important step when dealing with any homeowners association or similar organization is to know your laws and bylaws very well.

From vehicles in driveways and fence placement to the size of sheds and the length of your grass, your HOA might try to dictate every tiny little thing about your life in the neighborhood (freshly baked apple pies not included).

Naturally, conflicts arise. Most people in your neighborhood might even have good intentions, but their philosophies and the way they try to reach their goals might differ very much. Usually, we tend to think that our way is the best way, but if you want to get along with your neighbors, at some point, everyone will have to compromise on something. Giving and taking, gently pushing and pulling is the flow of life in the suburbs. You can’t win ‘em all! Though you shouldn’t have to settle for someone constantly stepping over your boundaries.

Good communication can solve a lot of problems. Even if you feel frustrated with someone, try to be as diplomatic as you can. However, if you feel that someone doesn’t respect you and your home, try to gently but clearly remind them of your personal and physical boundaries.

You never want to be seen like you’re attacking your neighbors because then they’ll just get defensive and you won’t get any closer to actually solving any issues. Aim for compromise while you stay up-to-date with the goings on in your neighborhood.

In the very worst-case scenarios, if you feel that your HOA is clearly overstepping the law and going mad with power, consider consulting a legal representative and see what options might be available to you. Sometimes the very fact that you’re seeking legal advice can prompt the HOA to look for compromises with you. Nobody wants to get down in long and potentially expensive legal battles, after all.

The author of the story shared some more of their thoughts in the comments of their viral post

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Here’s what a few more internet users had to say after reading the story

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