“It Was Glorious”: Car Owner Maliciously Complies With HOA’s New Rules, They Regret It Almost Immediately
Interview With AuthorWhen 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!
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
Here’s what a few more internet users had to say after reading the story
An ambulance (or firetruck, or police car) would drive over the curb and through the yard if there were sufficient space to do so.
Load More Replies...What a massive twat! And he's so proud that he's "beaten the system" by being a giant d**k to his neighbours. Well done!
You his neighbors were a massive dk, since they forbidden him for parking on his own property? What are you supposed to do in this situation, sell the house and move?
Load More Replies...I am questioning the authenticity of this story. As someone else has mentioned emergency vehicles would not have been able to go by and it was blocking traffic on a busy road so I am pretty sure the cops would have made him move or get one of his cars towed.
"Oh, I can't park my many, many vehicles on my driveway, so I'm going to cause potential endangerment to the lives of others until I get what I want." I call BS too. Someone would have had them towed.
Load More Replies...I was with him until he decided to make a public street impassable.
Same. Rather him than the people in this comment section
Load More Replies...If the neighbours voted the 3 cars rule in, on the basis that 3 is better than 1, that suggests that the neighbours didn't realise that the existing rule was technically invalid since (as the OP says) class C vehicles don't exist, and fines were voided if challenged by OP. In other words, some of those following the HOA rules might have been paying fines and/or struggling to park unnecessarily. OP dismisses his neighbours voting in the rule change people lack critical thinking skills, but did he ever think to let his neighbours know that they were voting in a restriction that, on a technicality, didn't already exist and any such fines didn't need to be paid? If he never told them, just because they 'lack critical thinking skills' and then he later blocked access to the estate for everyone but smart cars and bikes, I am very happy I don't have OP for a neighbour.
I guess just going to an HOA meeting and getting approval for having more than one car was way too difficult. I wouldn't want to be his neighbor, either. Sounds like he enjoys being an @$$hole. Entitled much?
Going to the HOA meeting DOES NOT in anyway guarantee he would have been allowed to park more than one car. I can almost guarantee it would not have made any difference. Our HOA wanted all the same mailboxes to increase property values. We had a neighbor go there will all the evidence showing that type of changes has zero effect on property values. Guess what happened, we all have the same f@+$&# mailboxes.
Load More Replies...A friend's neighbor only ever used 1 of his 2 assigned spaces for his wife's car. Kept his truck and a beater Mustang he was working on in the designated visitor spaces (blatant rules violation but the HOA never did anything) then would get mad when I used his other spot while visiting my friend. He used to threaten to have my truck towed, I always told him to try it and see how fast I had his truck and Mustang towed for being in the visitor spots. Came to a head one day when his other spot was occupied by his own visitor, so I just pulled across behind his truck and Mustang and boxed him in. He got so mad he was blocked in trying to leave for work he threatened to ram my truck in front of multiple witnesses, ended up driving over the sidewalk and grass to get out, HOA charged him for the damage to the grass and finally told him to keep his cars out of the visitor spots or they'd get towed.
So wait, how long did he actually block his neighbors from leaving? Sounds like a giant douchebag. I would have called a tow truck if I can't even get to work. And yes, towing companies will tow if you call the police on someone blocking a public street. This sounds like another BS story on the internet.
In my state, you can't park a vehicle on the street in such a way as to block traffic. If they're blocking traffic, especially emergency vehicles, one of them should be towed the hell away.
If you don't like HOAs, don't live there. Why did you move there? I'm sure there are plenty if places with out. It's like people that buy a house next to the airport and then complain about the noise. Some people just love drama.
I'll admit to believing that HOAs are the bane of responsible use and management of your own property, but this guy didn't really do anything other than get some rules refined and worded better while being a huge a-hole to the rest of the neighborhood.
Hmm, in most of the countries I was it was usually illegal to park in such a way, that the road gets blocked. No need for extra signs prohibiting this because it is already law ... and also common sense.
Unfortunately common sense isn't that common, especially in the U.S.
Load More Replies...Nah HOAs can suck it. They are nothing more than Karens and Boomers with nothing better to do
True, but he's literally preventing his neighbors from leaving thier homes. I call BS made up story.
Load More Replies...Since HOA's were originally created to keep people of any colour other than white from moving into the neighborhood, I don't see their use in this day and age 🤷🏼♀️
Im not buying the part about blocking the street. That doesn't fly regardless of where you live. He should be more careful in the future when making stuff up or telling half truths. This story is probably 60% truth and 40% bullshjt.
Class C: Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is transporting material that has been designated as hazardous under 49 U.S.C.
Tell me you are an a*****e without telling me you are an a*****e. I was on your side until you were happy that you blocked the street off with your cars. Grow up.
Or on my parents case limited number of political signs during an election year. My mom helped writing the bylaws. During the Biden/trump election year one guy had 7 signs and 1 flag for choice. The limit was 2. but since majority of HOA directors were for the same party nothing was said. And my parents just had to deal with monstrosity of his yard. They were not of the same party. Others for the other party had one sign in. Their yard but even those were few and far between
I love there fact that I don't live in an HOA. Did once and never again. Can't believe really got tricked into thinking that the only way to hold property value is to live in an HOA😂😂😂
I'll fix the title for you: Rich asshat becomes a major inconvenience to the whole neighborhood because they couldn't show off all their cars on their driveway
What a psychotic POS. I'm siding with the HOA and the neighbors on this one.
Nah, F this guy and anyone like them. A-holes who collect cars in a neighborhood should be straight up chased out by a mob of us normal people who only have what they need and only occupy the space required without ruining other peoples shared public spaces.
I'd be cool with him having as many cars as he likes as long as they are in his garage and his driveway. I only have an issue when I have a neighbor who has way more than that, or who puts the junker on the street rather than on their own property.
Load More Replies...I dont like HOAs either but this dude is annoying. Why even live in an HOA?
Honestly, when he parked in the city road and partly blocked it, that was incredibly rude. I have a ton of homeless/drifters living out of campers and the such, parked on both sides of the road leading to my apartment, and it bottlenecks traffic to one small car at a time. It's such a pain. It's just inconsiderate and rude. And something about car collectors just bothers me. I guess it's partly just the space they take up, as well as the unreasonableness of having more than maybe two.
I had to comment because I recently had the same issue where I live. It's not an HOA but a mobile home park and it has been over 2 months and less than half of the residents have complied with the rule change. I have established that most of the people who are getting away with not completing with the rule are either personal friends or family members of the park managers which is a real problem but there is nothing the rest of us can do except pay for storage for our other vehicles, all of which like yours are registered and insured. Kudos to you for being able to fight back, I wish we were in that position here
Jesus. Imagine having a neighbor go to these lengths just to make your neighborhood look like a car lot. HOAs get a lot of hate but in general they try to maintain a neighborhood according to the general wants of the people living there.
So if the streets are public. How is it still a HOA? That does not sound right?
Why do people care what their neighbors house looks like? It literally doesn't effect your house at all. People look all kinds of ugly and wear all kinds of gross s**t and there's no laws against it. Why these laws?
That not a good analogy comparing clothes to a home that cost six figures minimum. Your neighbors home can effect the value of your home. If they don't take care of there yard and have piles of junk everywhere thats definitely an issue that does effect your homes value. If they decide to paint their home florescent green and have a bunch of broken vehicles and a trashed motor home in the driveway thats not going to be helpful to the price of your home if you sell. There are countless ways neighbors can have a major effect on the value of your home. Even if it isnt figured into the price it can still cause problems when negotiating a price which can mean thousands of dollars. Nobody wants to live next to a home with a lawn that is just weeds growing chest high and trees that are rotting which could come down on a neighbors roof and is a danger to anyone walking under it. Im not saying i like hoa's but your neighbors home can effect your home value, your homes safety and your own safety
Load More Replies...HOAs can KMA. They are nothing more than Karens and Boomers with nothing better to do
This is nonsense. My work requires pulling over/parking in residential neighborhoods and literally everywhere else. There don't need to be signs posted. City road, city laws. Intentionally impeding traffic will get you ticketed and/or towed. Reddit lives in fantasy land.
Not every neighborhood has an HOA. If you are going to buy a house, why not do a little research into the neighborhood? It sounds like he would have not been too happy living there in the first place. And now he has pissed off the neighbors, that doesn't tend to make for a happy life.
Consider running for the board yourself and you'll see how fun it is to be personally blamed for things people don't like.
Sorry but car repair hoarders are really irritating with the junk cars all over the place. It is like looking at a junk yard.
Agreed. And they ALWAYS lie that all of the vehicles run. They need to buy a larger parcel of land on the outskirts of town, instead of inflicting their mess on hardworking families in suburbia.
Load More Replies...While most HOA horror stories involve someone justifiably getting their own back, what this guy did isn't cool. Blocking a street is a d**k move. Assuming it actually happened at all, that is.
If he collects cars, why not rent out a proper storage lot. We all agree HOA's suck, but why ruin a public space? He chose to collect BIG things that take up space, he chose to move into an HOA, then he chose to be a dk by ruining the public space for people living under the HOA. He doesn't KNOW it was his neighbors who reported him, it's not like he said he lived next to the HOA board members, so he is just punishing people who have to follow the same rules as he is. He is farting in a cramped space to spite the fact he is in that space.
His collected cars are in storage in the garage. The rest are daily commuter vehicles, as mentioned
Load More Replies...I think you were BRILLIANT! Perfect Compliance For those pooh-poohing his choices. Tell us how you'd have handled it? Would the issue have been solved your way? Do not use such a sharp eye on others in judgement for their decisions and or choices, lest you be judged by your own words.
Obviously there was another way around just not as convenient as using the street he lived on. I'm starting to think lots of the commenters here are no smarter then the HOA that stated class c vehicles.
If I had a bunch of dumbasses telling me what I can and can't do on my own property, I would do the same thing! As a car guy, I wouldn't get rid of one single car in my collection because someone in my neighborhood doesn't like my driveway full of shiny, legally registered, and drivable cars. Start parking on the lawn and I'll call the city, because that's actually illegal here.
An ambulance (or firetruck, or police car) would drive over the curb and through the yard if there were sufficient space to do so.
Load More Replies...What a massive twat! And he's so proud that he's "beaten the system" by being a giant d**k to his neighbours. Well done!
You his neighbors were a massive dk, since they forbidden him for parking on his own property? What are you supposed to do in this situation, sell the house and move?
Load More Replies...I am questioning the authenticity of this story. As someone else has mentioned emergency vehicles would not have been able to go by and it was blocking traffic on a busy road so I am pretty sure the cops would have made him move or get one of his cars towed.
"Oh, I can't park my many, many vehicles on my driveway, so I'm going to cause potential endangerment to the lives of others until I get what I want." I call BS too. Someone would have had them towed.
Load More Replies...I was with him until he decided to make a public street impassable.
Same. Rather him than the people in this comment section
Load More Replies...If the neighbours voted the 3 cars rule in, on the basis that 3 is better than 1, that suggests that the neighbours didn't realise that the existing rule was technically invalid since (as the OP says) class C vehicles don't exist, and fines were voided if challenged by OP. In other words, some of those following the HOA rules might have been paying fines and/or struggling to park unnecessarily. OP dismisses his neighbours voting in the rule change people lack critical thinking skills, but did he ever think to let his neighbours know that they were voting in a restriction that, on a technicality, didn't already exist and any such fines didn't need to be paid? If he never told them, just because they 'lack critical thinking skills' and then he later blocked access to the estate for everyone but smart cars and bikes, I am very happy I don't have OP for a neighbour.
I guess just going to an HOA meeting and getting approval for having more than one car was way too difficult. I wouldn't want to be his neighbor, either. Sounds like he enjoys being an @$$hole. Entitled much?
Going to the HOA meeting DOES NOT in anyway guarantee he would have been allowed to park more than one car. I can almost guarantee it would not have made any difference. Our HOA wanted all the same mailboxes to increase property values. We had a neighbor go there will all the evidence showing that type of changes has zero effect on property values. Guess what happened, we all have the same f@+$&# mailboxes.
Load More Replies...A friend's neighbor only ever used 1 of his 2 assigned spaces for his wife's car. Kept his truck and a beater Mustang he was working on in the designated visitor spaces (blatant rules violation but the HOA never did anything) then would get mad when I used his other spot while visiting my friend. He used to threaten to have my truck towed, I always told him to try it and see how fast I had his truck and Mustang towed for being in the visitor spots. Came to a head one day when his other spot was occupied by his own visitor, so I just pulled across behind his truck and Mustang and boxed him in. He got so mad he was blocked in trying to leave for work he threatened to ram my truck in front of multiple witnesses, ended up driving over the sidewalk and grass to get out, HOA charged him for the damage to the grass and finally told him to keep his cars out of the visitor spots or they'd get towed.
So wait, how long did he actually block his neighbors from leaving? Sounds like a giant douchebag. I would have called a tow truck if I can't even get to work. And yes, towing companies will tow if you call the police on someone blocking a public street. This sounds like another BS story on the internet.
In my state, you can't park a vehicle on the street in such a way as to block traffic. If they're blocking traffic, especially emergency vehicles, one of them should be towed the hell away.
If you don't like HOAs, don't live there. Why did you move there? I'm sure there are plenty if places with out. It's like people that buy a house next to the airport and then complain about the noise. Some people just love drama.
I'll admit to believing that HOAs are the bane of responsible use and management of your own property, but this guy didn't really do anything other than get some rules refined and worded better while being a huge a-hole to the rest of the neighborhood.
Hmm, in most of the countries I was it was usually illegal to park in such a way, that the road gets blocked. No need for extra signs prohibiting this because it is already law ... and also common sense.
Unfortunately common sense isn't that common, especially in the U.S.
Load More Replies...Nah HOAs can suck it. They are nothing more than Karens and Boomers with nothing better to do
True, but he's literally preventing his neighbors from leaving thier homes. I call BS made up story.
Load More Replies...Since HOA's were originally created to keep people of any colour other than white from moving into the neighborhood, I don't see their use in this day and age 🤷🏼♀️
Im not buying the part about blocking the street. That doesn't fly regardless of where you live. He should be more careful in the future when making stuff up or telling half truths. This story is probably 60% truth and 40% bullshjt.
Class C: Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is transporting material that has been designated as hazardous under 49 U.S.C.
Tell me you are an a*****e without telling me you are an a*****e. I was on your side until you were happy that you blocked the street off with your cars. Grow up.
Or on my parents case limited number of political signs during an election year. My mom helped writing the bylaws. During the Biden/trump election year one guy had 7 signs and 1 flag for choice. The limit was 2. but since majority of HOA directors were for the same party nothing was said. And my parents just had to deal with monstrosity of his yard. They were not of the same party. Others for the other party had one sign in. Their yard but even those were few and far between
I love there fact that I don't live in an HOA. Did once and never again. Can't believe really got tricked into thinking that the only way to hold property value is to live in an HOA😂😂😂
I'll fix the title for you: Rich asshat becomes a major inconvenience to the whole neighborhood because they couldn't show off all their cars on their driveway
What a psychotic POS. I'm siding with the HOA and the neighbors on this one.
Nah, F this guy and anyone like them. A-holes who collect cars in a neighborhood should be straight up chased out by a mob of us normal people who only have what they need and only occupy the space required without ruining other peoples shared public spaces.
I'd be cool with him having as many cars as he likes as long as they are in his garage and his driveway. I only have an issue when I have a neighbor who has way more than that, or who puts the junker on the street rather than on their own property.
Load More Replies...I dont like HOAs either but this dude is annoying. Why even live in an HOA?
Honestly, when he parked in the city road and partly blocked it, that was incredibly rude. I have a ton of homeless/drifters living out of campers and the such, parked on both sides of the road leading to my apartment, and it bottlenecks traffic to one small car at a time. It's such a pain. It's just inconsiderate and rude. And something about car collectors just bothers me. I guess it's partly just the space they take up, as well as the unreasonableness of having more than maybe two.
I had to comment because I recently had the same issue where I live. It's not an HOA but a mobile home park and it has been over 2 months and less than half of the residents have complied with the rule change. I have established that most of the people who are getting away with not completing with the rule are either personal friends or family members of the park managers which is a real problem but there is nothing the rest of us can do except pay for storage for our other vehicles, all of which like yours are registered and insured. Kudos to you for being able to fight back, I wish we were in that position here
Jesus. Imagine having a neighbor go to these lengths just to make your neighborhood look like a car lot. HOAs get a lot of hate but in general they try to maintain a neighborhood according to the general wants of the people living there.
So if the streets are public. How is it still a HOA? That does not sound right?
Why do people care what their neighbors house looks like? It literally doesn't effect your house at all. People look all kinds of ugly and wear all kinds of gross s**t and there's no laws against it. Why these laws?
That not a good analogy comparing clothes to a home that cost six figures minimum. Your neighbors home can effect the value of your home. If they don't take care of there yard and have piles of junk everywhere thats definitely an issue that does effect your homes value. If they decide to paint their home florescent green and have a bunch of broken vehicles and a trashed motor home in the driveway thats not going to be helpful to the price of your home if you sell. There are countless ways neighbors can have a major effect on the value of your home. Even if it isnt figured into the price it can still cause problems when negotiating a price which can mean thousands of dollars. Nobody wants to live next to a home with a lawn that is just weeds growing chest high and trees that are rotting which could come down on a neighbors roof and is a danger to anyone walking under it. Im not saying i like hoa's but your neighbors home can effect your home value, your homes safety and your own safety
Load More Replies...HOAs can KMA. They are nothing more than Karens and Boomers with nothing better to do
This is nonsense. My work requires pulling over/parking in residential neighborhoods and literally everywhere else. There don't need to be signs posted. City road, city laws. Intentionally impeding traffic will get you ticketed and/or towed. Reddit lives in fantasy land.
Not every neighborhood has an HOA. If you are going to buy a house, why not do a little research into the neighborhood? It sounds like he would have not been too happy living there in the first place. And now he has pissed off the neighbors, that doesn't tend to make for a happy life.
Consider running for the board yourself and you'll see how fun it is to be personally blamed for things people don't like.
Sorry but car repair hoarders are really irritating with the junk cars all over the place. It is like looking at a junk yard.
Agreed. And they ALWAYS lie that all of the vehicles run. They need to buy a larger parcel of land on the outskirts of town, instead of inflicting their mess on hardworking families in suburbia.
Load More Replies...While most HOA horror stories involve someone justifiably getting their own back, what this guy did isn't cool. Blocking a street is a d**k move. Assuming it actually happened at all, that is.
If he collects cars, why not rent out a proper storage lot. We all agree HOA's suck, but why ruin a public space? He chose to collect BIG things that take up space, he chose to move into an HOA, then he chose to be a dk by ruining the public space for people living under the HOA. He doesn't KNOW it was his neighbors who reported him, it's not like he said he lived next to the HOA board members, so he is just punishing people who have to follow the same rules as he is. He is farting in a cramped space to spite the fact he is in that space.
His collected cars are in storage in the garage. The rest are daily commuter vehicles, as mentioned
Load More Replies...I think you were BRILLIANT! Perfect Compliance For those pooh-poohing his choices. Tell us how you'd have handled it? Would the issue have been solved your way? Do not use such a sharp eye on others in judgement for their decisions and or choices, lest you be judged by your own words.
Obviously there was another way around just not as convenient as using the street he lived on. I'm starting to think lots of the commenters here are no smarter then the HOA that stated class c vehicles.
If I had a bunch of dumbasses telling me what I can and can't do on my own property, I would do the same thing! As a car guy, I wouldn't get rid of one single car in my collection because someone in my neighborhood doesn't like my driveway full of shiny, legally registered, and drivable cars. Start parking on the lawn and I'll call the city, because that's actually illegal here.
91
89