07-02-2025
Horry County resident frustrated with HOA as county leads South Carolina in complaints in 2024
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) released its annual Homeowners Association (HOA) Complaint Report, and Horry County had the most HOA complaints in the state for the seventh year in a row.
Scott Cooke, the SCDCA communications director, says Horry County remains at the top for complaints because many people are moving there, and many of its new communities have HOAs.
By state law, the Department of Consumer Affairs is required to publish an annual HOA complaint report. State lawmakers then review it.
'That information can help them make better decisions about how the state needs to move forward, or keep laws, or change laws,' Cooke said.
However, the department is not allowed to require HOAs to respond to complaints or take action.
Residents can file a complaint through the SCDCA. The department usually gives HOAs 30 days to respond. After that, the department will tell you how the HOA resolved your complaint or why it did not.
Sandi Laney, an Horry County resident, says she filed a complaint with her HOA, First Service Residential, about algae in the pond behind her house.
She says she has called and emailed the HOA multiple times, and people came to clean the algae, but it came back. Laney says she is afraid the algae will kill wildlife and make the community smell bad once it is hot outside again.
'Help us,' Laney said. 'We don't know what to do. And I'm not the only one who's called them. I've actually made two calls directly and, of course, they'll say, 'We're looking into it. We have to get the board.''
She also says her HOA increased its monthly dues in the new year. She says if she and her neighbors need to pay more, the HOA must resolve community issues.
'As consumers, we work hard for our money and, if you pay for something, you expect something in return,' Laney said. 'You know, something of good value.'
The Department of Consumer Affairs' report says Myrtle Beach Resort HOA received the most complaints in Horry County in 2024.
The top three issues statewide were HOAs failing to follow or enforce bylaws, concerns with maintenance and repairs, and HOAs ignoring requests for information and documents.
Cooke says the best way to see change from your HOA is to get involved.
'You want to know what's in your HOA's governing documents and your bylaws,' he said. 'If you don't like the decisions your board is taking, you can either run for those boards yourself, or talk to other people in the community to see if they want to run.'
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Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here.
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