Bad HOA

Win Your HOA Lawsuit, Lose Your Attorney's Fees? What You Need to Know About ADR

Most homeowners arrive saying the same thing — I want to sue my HOA — but in California, filing too early can quietly cost you the right to recover your attorney's fees.

Proving HOA Negligence: Duty, Breach, and the Paper Trail That Wins

“My HOA is negligent” gets said a lot — but negligence is an actual legal claim with specific parts, and knowing them is the difference between a complaint your board ign

A Bad Neighbor and a Bad HOA Aren't Always Two Separate Problems

When a neighbor violates the CC&Rs and the harm lands on you, your first instinct is to fight the neighbor. But the bigger fight is often with the association that knows

How One Appeal Changed California HOA Election Rights

Most homeowners lose an HOA election before a single ballot is counted—because the board controls who gets to speak. In this episode, Luke Carlson and co-host Marty are

Failure to Repair: When Your HOA Won't Fix What They Should

Your roof is leaking. Mold is spreading. The board won't return your calls — or tells you it's your problem when it isn't. In this episode of Bad HOA, Luke Carlson and M

How to Use Your CC&Rs to Hold Your HOA Accountable

Most homeowners think their CC&Rs only tell them what they can't do. In this episode, Luke Carlson and Marty break down why CC&Rs may actually be one of the most powerful

Is your HOA enforcing rules against you while giving your neighbors a free pass?

In this episode of the Bad HOA Podcast, attorney Luke Carlson and co-host Marty revisit one of the most requested topics in the series — selective enforcement. Nearly 50

If You Can't Dismantle Your HOA, What Can You Do? Real Alternatives That Work

This episode is the follow-up homeowners have been asking for. After our episode on the "nuclear option"—the idea of dissolving an HOA entirely—we heard from a lot of lis

The Real Limits of Your HOA Architectural Committee's Power

Architectural control committees are at the center of some of the most common—and most frustrating—HOA disputes. Paint colors, patios, fences, solar panels, landscaping:

Why Dissolving Your HOA Probably Won't Work (And What to Do Instead)

When homeowners are fed up with a bad HOA, dissolution often sounds like the perfect solution. Just get rid of it entirely. But as this episode explains, the "nuclear opt

New California HOA Laws for 2026: What Homeowners Need to Know

California has enacted several new HOA laws effective January 1, 2026, continuing the legislative trend toward greater homeowner protections and transparency. This episod

The Homeowner Empowerment Kit: Turning HOA Disputes Into Organized Action

Most HOA disputes don’t fall apart because the homeowner is wrong—they fall apart because the paper trail is a mess. In this episode of Bad HOA, we introduce the Homeowne

The STRIKE Method: A Homeowner’s Framework for HOA Disputes

In this episode of Bad HOA, Luke Carlson and Marty Vasquez introduce the STRIKE Method, a practical framework homeowners use to approach disputes with clarity, documentat

HOA Transparency 101: What Records You Can Request, How to Get Them, and What Happens When Boards Refuse

This episode came straight from the r/BADHOA community. After asking which topics you wanted us to cover next, the most upvoted theme was clear: HOA transparency—what rec

We Just Built the Homeowner War Room: Introducing the Bad HOA Subreddit

Homeowners dealing with unfair HOAs have a new place to unite, share strategies, and build real power: the official Bad HOA subreddit.In this episode, Luke and Marty disc

The Homeowner-First Playbook: How to Push Back on a Bad HOA (Before You Lawyer Up)

Most HOA disputes don’t start in a courtroom—they start with a confusing letter and a lot of emotion. In this episode, Luke and Marty break down a practical approach for

HOA Rules 101: What Needs a Vote and What Doesn’t

In this episode of Bad HOA, Luke and Marty pull back the curtain on how HOA rules really work. They explain the difference between CC&Rs, bylaws, and everyday regulations

HOA vs Property Management: Who’s Really in Charge?

Most homeowners think their battle is with the property management company—but here’s the truth: they’re just the hired help. In this episode, attorney Luke Carlson break

Sacramento to the Front Page: How AB 130 Became a Movement

This episode of Bad HOA takes you behind the scenes of our trip to Sacramento during the passage of AB 130. Luke and Marty discuss Capitol conversations, the LA Times fro

Inside Sacramento: How AB-130 Is Empowering Homeowners

California homeowners just got a major legal win. In this episode of Bad HOA, attorney Luke Carlson breaks down AB-130—the landmark legislation that caps HOA fines at $10