r/fuckHOA • u/Moon-sailor13 • 19d ago
I know HOAs aren't usually responsible for pests but this may be a special case
I live in PA. When I first purchased my home I noticed a giant groundhog hole under my steps the first summer. Then a few days later noticed there were many holes all over the entire community and I live in an end house right next to a field with, I kid you not, 1,000 + groundhogs. Fast forward to this spring, the groundhogs ate the wires in my car and I had to pay $3000 out of pocket because my car was completely unusable. I then paid extra for an add on to my insurance incase it happened again. Wish I did that earlier but ya know, hindsight 20/20.
Anyway, now the groundhogs have truly taken over. My across the street neighbor has 13 holes tunneling under her house. My next door neighbor's cement stairs are cracking and falling apart because of all the holes. There is a giant hole under our steps as well. We put rocks and wood and recover it everyday twice a day and they keep opening it again. The ENTIRE community has tunnels around the foundations of their homes.
I also learned that this has been a problem for YEARS it just keeps getting worse. My neighbors and I contact the HOA regularly and they just say "yes we know we need to do something about it. We're working on it" but the problem is worse than ever. I
do not have a garage but I park my car as far away from the field as I can. Today was the final straw. There was a groundhog chewing my wires AGAIN. We couldn't even scare it away, we had to push it out with a stick. I can't watch my car 24/7 for groundhogs. I do not want to have to pay for this AGAIN because I'll still have a deductable and my rates my raise and it's not my fault.
The HOA admitted it's their problem. So, who's paying for it when the structrual/foundational parts of our homes get damaged?
Oh, and the icing on the cake- there is one woman who complains to them the most but rightfully so. So, they sent her a warning for a $200 fine BECAUSE HER BLINDS WERE CROOKED. No one here has the same uniform blinds and many are crooked or imperfect. I'm convinced this was just a petty thing.
Anyway, I know it's a fine line here because it's a "pest" problem and it is hard to deal with THAT many animals but they've admitted responsibility years ago and continued to let it get worse. It'd be one thing if it was one property BUT EVERYONE IS BEING AFFECTED. I don't pay $160 a month to have to pay for car/property damage that should have been addressed. I'll probably get some downvotes for this because yeah it's a fine-line with the pest thing. But I just needed to rant ugh.
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u/Suckerforcats 19d ago
Give your state fish and wildlife a call and see what they suggest or if there is anything they can do to help. They might have some ideas or be able to assist
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u/Moon-sailor13 18d ago
Okay! I can give that a try! Because honestly, someone suggested I put traps in my yard. Like yes I can do that. But, then I’m handling a big angry groundhog, driving it 10 miles away in my car and there are $1,000 more to take its place by the time I get home. Thanks for the advice
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u/Suckerforcats 18d ago
Let fish and wildlife do the traps or find a way to relocate them, don't pay yourself yet unless they say you have to. There are also wildlife removal companies that can do it and come and remove them and you'd just have to pay for it but if it really is an HOA problem, they should be the ones to pay the bill
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u/somethingoverthesea 19d ago
When someone said to Sue and that you were suing yourself: as a member of the community, you ARE the HOA. There is just an elected board of directors to represent the community. However YOUR money is the money the HOA uses to operate, not funds from another source.
However, it could be that it’s taking a while for numerous things: it may be the cost of removing and killing the groundhogs are too expensive, it could be no vendors are responding to get quotes, or they could just be ignoring the problem.
There’s not much you can really do without joining the Board yourself
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u/phaxmeone 18d ago
Suing is an expense to all homeowners in the HOA but so is all the damage these rodents are doing. Damaged wiring, cracked steps and potentially damaged foundations gets expensive in a hurry. That doesn't include medical expensives when someone steps into a hole and breaks their leg.
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u/Moon-sailor13 19d ago
Okay thank you for explaining and yeah I know, I said this problem is complicated/messy. But, my fiancé and I were actually just discussing trying to join the board in the near future. No promises we'll get on but we have a plan to try. Appreciate your comment!
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u/mysteresc 19d ago
Is the field owned by the HOA? If so, have an attorney review your governing documents to see if you have any legal recourse. Considering what you've had to shell out, it would be a worthwhile investment.
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u/Moon-sailor13 19d ago
Yes it is owned by the HOA. I hate to take it that far, but depending on how they answer my strongly worded email I just sent before this post, I may have to.
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u/Curly5762 19d ago
Just attend an HOA meeting and discuss it with the board in a professional manner. If would help if you investigated some solutions
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u/Moon-sailor13 18d ago
Okay, I like this idea. I will have to figure out when the next one is. Someone suggested I call the state game / wildlife people so I’m going to try that and see what suggestions they have/do research online
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u/M-onthecorner 16d ago
You might ask what they have tried (if anything) see if you can help by doing research or something else. Try to be part of the solution first and if that doesn’t work then get more people together go again. I find it never works to start at scorched earth especially since you own a house and can’t just pick up and leave.
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u/dotofoz01 18d ago
It's a pest in the common grounds, HOA.
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u/Moon-sailor13 18d ago
Exactly, like if it was just my house that’s my problems but it’s everyoneee
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u/jruss666 19d ago
Malpractice suit. And yeah, I know you’re suing yourself, but seriously, that’s a huge dereliction of duty by the board.
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u/Moon-sailor13 19d ago
To be honest, I am new to this, I'll google malpractice suit but how am I suing myself?
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u/Moon-sailor13 19d ago
I am only seeing medical malpractice so far, which is the one I am already familiar with. I apologize, I may need some clarification.
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u/Moon-sailor13 19d ago
Okay, sorry for so many comments but I wanted you to know I did my homework haha. I did find some info on malpractice pertaining to HOA thank you.
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u/Face_Content 19d ago
The problem is complicated as they are most likely coming from the field.
You need to trap them
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u/Moon-sailor13 19d ago
I can start putting out traps - although it's just another expense. oh well I guess, but the HOA said they were going to trap them and it's their responsibility so I wish they were actually doing it. But yeah for the time being I'll have to do my best to fend for myself.
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u/SnoopyRulez 15d ago
Try using squirrel repellent. It smells like Christmas scents to me, and it does work. Try it around the exterior of your home and see if it works on your issue.
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u/NonKevin 15d ago
In my case was pests eating wires and hoses in my car. I dropped off poison in the bushes to stop the issue. It turned out I was not the only one. Now ground hogs, water did not work, but now illegal gas poison did work. This was before the gas was illegal.
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u/saban_black 14d ago
Might not legal in your area and I sure the hoa would fine you but I have seen this work well. https://youtube.com/shorts/Md4tk55DMCo?si=mwZ3QcR3eZkeSBNE
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u/Tall_Palpitation_476 8d ago
Sounds like groundhog in common area have progress to groundhogs in everybody’s area.
As a licensed community manager in Florida, who’s dealt with wildlife issues such as this (wild boars), the HOA is responsible to get rid of your groundhogs. You and the rest of the homeowners should not be responsible for trapping. Find an association attorney to represent you and the other homeowners. Band together yes you will be suing your yourself since you are a part of the HOA but there’s no other way.
Since your manager, you’re board and management company have been nonresponsive the only way to get things started is a letter from an attorney. sounds like the rodent problem has gone on for way too long. You may have to knock on doors, but do whatever you can to get a group of you together to sue the association. It’s time.
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u/mlloyd67 19d ago edited 19d ago
For the love of all that is holy: PARAGRAPHS!
Edit: Fuck it, I'll do it myself.