An LA lawyer got slapped with $15,200 in HOA fines over a condo remodel — now California caps fines at just $100 each

Once Horbowy moved into the unit in early 2025, she received a letter from the HOA that included $15,200 in fines. “They were convinced they were above the law and could make any decision they wanted,” Horbowy told Business Insider.

Horbowy fought the fines and won. Shortly after, she decided to run for a spot on the HOA board, but one board member lashed out in an email, calling Horbowy, who is Polish, a “Russian whore” before departing the HOA.

Since then, some states — including California — have curbed HOA fine amounts. In June 2025, the Golden State’s legislature capped HOA fines at $100, including the limit in Assembly Bill 130. Florida, Nevada and North Carolina have also imposed similar limits on HOA fines.

Lines are being crossed, with serious cash on the line

While, at first glance, excessive governance seems to be the major problem, a closer look at HOA-owner conflicts reveals its cash that divides the two parties.

“As it stands, every HOA $200 monthly dues increase eats up $30,000 in homeowner equity and buying power simultaneously,” Jonathan Gropper, a lawyer and the founder of TrueHOA, a Miami-based HOA/condo verified governance services firm, told Moneywise.

Add in a special assessment that could be in the tens or hundreds of thousands per unit, and it becomes toxic.

“The HOA becomes a second mortgage that never gets paid off, and if you are unable to pay it, you get foreclosed on,” Gropper noted. “It’s a very vicious cycle that every homeowner is at risk of.”

Paperwork, or lack of accurate and timely documents, is another thorn in the side of HOA-stressed homeowners.

“The core problem is that while fees rise for real reasons, owners cannot tell a legitimate charge from an arbitrary or fraudulent one, because neither the documents nor the vote behind it could be verified,” Gropper said.

An honest board and a criminal one can look the same, Gropper stated. “Homeowners were conditioned that it’s ‘homeowners versus the HOA,’ which is not healthy or proper,” he noted. “The HOA is neighbors managing their affairs. Everyone pays for the manager, the lawyers, the fees and the insurance.”

Suing the HOA doesn’t help bruised feelings, since it’s like suing yourself and paying for both sides. “The only winners are the lawyers,” Gropper added. “Even if a homeowner goes through the nearly two years that a dispute takes to wind through court, a judge can say that you won but you cannot un-ring a bell.”

Community governance oversight could help, or retired homeowners could be hardest hit.

“I don’t know if it’s poor planning, not getting enough competitive bids, or just inefficiency in how these projects are managed,” Stephen Keighery, founder of Home Buyer Louisiana and a director of the New Orleans Investors Association, told Moneywise. “But when the HOA can effectively pass the cost on to homeowners through special assessments, I think there needs to be a lot more scrutiny around how that money is being spent.”

Keighery also believes the HOA-owner faceoff is an overlooked affordability issue, particularly for retirees. “Someone might own their property outright and have very manageable living expenses, but that doesn’t mean they have the cash available when an HOA suddenly asks them for thousands of dollars,” he said.

How to handle a contentious relationship with an HOA

Homeowners can take action when working with an HOA or pushing back against one.

“Anyone buying a condo or property with an HOA would be wise to look beyond the monthly fees,” Keighery said. “Find out how much money they have in reserves, whether they’ve had special assessments in the past, and what major repairs are coming up. The last thing you want is to buy what you thought was an affordable property and then get hit with a massive bill.”

If you’re facing a pricey assessment or fine from an HOA, take a deep breath and make a plan. Homeowners who feel trapped should review the paperwork: the association’s budget, reserve study, any milestone inspection report and any pertinent certificate.

“You can’t fight a number you haven’t seen,” Daniel Sasson, founder at Florida Cash For Home in Hollywood, Florida, told Moneywise. “Ask for those records in writing, since Florida condo and HOA members have a right to inspect association records. Read the budget and reserves first, because thin reserves can be where the next assessment comes from.”