South Carolina Homeowners Face Surge in HOA Complaints

News Summary

Homeowners in South Carolina are experiencing a significant rise in complaints related to homeowners’ associations (HOAs), with 434 qualifying complaints filed in 2024. This marks an 18% increase from the previous year, driven by a growing population and heightened awareness of homeowners’ rights. Horry County leads the state in complaints, indicating a pressing need for better enforcement of community rules and maintenance issues. Despite nearly 70% of complaints being closed, less than 3% of complainants reported satisfaction, signaling ongoing dissatisfaction among homeowners.

South Carolina Homeowners Feel the Heat with Rising HOA Complaints

In a surprising turn of events, South Carolina is seeing a noticeable jump in complaints related to homeowners’ associations (HOAs). The numbers show that homeowners across the state filed a staggering total of 434 HOA qualifying complaints in 2024. That’s a remarkable 18% increase from just last year and a whopping 79% increase compared to 2019! So, what’s behind this sudden uptick in grumbling from homeowners?

Why the Outcry?

Experts suggest that this surge can be pinpointed to two main reasons: the ever-growing population in the state and a greater awareness regarding the process of filing complaints. It appears that more and more homeowners are finding their voice and speaking out about their frustrations with their HOAs. As Scott Cooke, the communications director at SCDCA, points out, this is a sign that homeowners are getting informed about their rights and taking action.

Horry County Takes the Lead Again

Leading the charge for the third consecutive year is none other than Horry County, which accounted for a jaw-dropping 27% of the total complaints in the state! Following closely is Richland County with 13.4%, while Charleston County held down 7.8% of the complaints. It seems that Horry County is becoming quite the hotspot for HOA issues, and residents aren’t afraid to voice their grievances.

Types of Complaints on the Rise

As for the complaints themselves, perhaps unsurprisingly, the most common issues revolved around failure to adhere to or enforce covenants and bylaws. Homeowners are clearly tired of rules not being enforced. Following that, concerns regarding maintenance and repairs secured the second spot on the complaint list. It’s clear that many residents feel their HOAs aren’t keeping up their end of the bargain when it comes to maintaining their communities.

Interestingly, despite the surge in complaints, nearly 70% of the total complaints were marked as closed, signaling that a response was deemed satisfactory by the agency. However, diving deeper into those numbers tells a different story. Only 2.8% of complainants reported feeling satisfied with the outcome of the resolution process. It makes one wonder if the closing of cases is more about wrapping things up than genuinely resolving the issues at hand.

What Happens After Filing a Complaint?

But here’s the catch: filing a complaint doesn’t guarantee that the problem will be solved. Instead, it kicks off a voluntary mediation process. Last year, around 6% of the complaints filed went completely unanswered by the HOAs, which might leave some homeowners feeling disappointed with the lack of follow-through.

Also noteworthy are the complaints that could have been categorized differently. For example, 15% were marked as “undetermined” due to fact disputes, while 9.7% were labeled “unsatisfied” because businesses didn’t respond at all. Talk about frustrations!

Empower Yourself!

If homeowners are feeling disheartened by their HOAs, they can take matters into their own hands. Homeowners should know that they have the right to access their HOA’s rules and budget. Moreover, if dissatisfaction is prevalent, they are encouraged to run for board positions or promote someone they trust to advocate for better governance within their communities. After all, a little collective action can go a long way!

In conclusion, as South Carolina navigates through these rising HOA complaints, residents are becoming more vocal and proactive. With a little more awareness and engagement, they can effect real change in their neighborhoods. So, let’s hope for fewer complaints next year, or at the very least, happier homeowners!

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Additional Resources

• WMBF News
• WBTW News
• AOL News
• Myrtle Beach Online
• ABC News 4
• Wikipedia: Homeowners Association
• Google Search: South Carolina HOA complaints
• Google Scholar: HOA complaints in South Carolina
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Homeowners Association
• Google News: South Carolina HOA issues