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Beaufort County has among highest complaints against HOAs in SC. Here's why folks are upset

In South Carolina, there has been increasing dismay in homeowner associations, or HOA neighborhoods, with complaints surging by 570% in just seven years. In the latest report, between 2023 and 2024, there was a 19% jump in complaints filed in the state, with Lowcountry neighborhoods far from immune. The biggest concerns homeowners expressed was the enforcement of the HOA's rules and the maintenance and repair of the grounds and homes. The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs publishes a comprehensive list of the complaints filed against HOA communities in 28 counties across the state yearly. As the number of complaints continue to escalate across the state, Beaufort County is one of the top five counties in 2024 for the number of complaints reported: Horry: 117 complaints Richland: 58 complaints Charleston: 34 complaints Greenville: 31 complaints Beaufort: 24 complaints Neighboring Jasper County, home to larger HOA neighborhoods like Latitude Margaritaville, Hilton Head Lakes and parts of Sun City, is one of the top three counties for complaints reported per capita, with 1.04 complaints per 1,000 people. In 2024, six complaints were reviewed. The top three areas of complaints filed by residents within HOA communities in South Carolina are: Failure to adhere to and/or enforce covenants and bylaws Maintenance and repair Consumer disagreement with fees or special assessments The total number of complaints reviewed by the SCDCA from 2018 to 2024 saw a spike as well: 2018: 92 complaints filed; 89 cases reviewed 2024: 617 complaints filed; 434 cases reviewed If a case is filed, it does not always mean it will be reviewed. Review is dependent upon the complainant providing adequate information and context, meaning not all complaints can be addressed. Here's what each of the 24 complaints from Beaufort County reported, according to the SCDCA. Half of these complaints have yet to receive responses or adequate information from their HOAs. Some communities have more than one complaint: Queens Grant Complaint Description: HOA ignoring their responsibility and shifting the financial burden of damages caused by the work they were responsible for completing and did. Status: Satisfied - Adequate Business Response Pleasant Point Plantation Complaint Description: Consumer is requesting that the HOA update and correct their documentation regarding their authority related to tree removal within the HOA. Status: Satisfied - Adequate Business Response Hampton Lake Complaint Description: Conflict of interest with board members sitting on multiple boards that interact with one another passing monies. Status: Satisfied - Adequate Business Response Picket Fences Complaint Description: Failure to adhere to and/or enforce covenants and bylaws, Concerns regarding maintenance or repairs, Issue related to Board Elections. Status: Satisfied - Adequate Business Response Hampton Hall Club Complaint Description: Judicial review of the interpretation of voting requirements. Status: Undetermined Azalea Square Complaint Description: Requesting waiver or adjustment of late fees, Request to access information/view documents ignored, Consumer disagrees with HOA Fees/Special Assessments. Status: Undetermined Palmetto Bay Marina Village Complaint Description: Requesting waiver or adjustment of late fees. Status: Satisfied - Adequate Business Response Island Club Hilton Head Complaint Description: Request to access information/view documents ignored. Status: Satisfied - Adequate Business Response Harbor Island Complaint Description: Concerns with property lines. Status: Satisfied - Adequate Business Response Oldfield Community Complaint Description: Access to HOA Amenities. Status: Satisfied - Adequate Business Response Harbor Island Complaint Description: Misuse of power by the board. Status: Satisfied - Adequate Business Response Malind Bluff Complaint Description: Modify the governing documents to make them less ambiguous and subjective. Status: Satisfied - Adequate Business Response Bartons Run Complaint Description: The POA refuses to share financial balance sheets with association members outside the hours of 10-3 p.m., and you have to go to the property manager's office. Status: Undetermined Moss Oaks Complaint Description: Failure to adhere to and/or enforce covenants and bylaws. Status: Satisfied - Adequate Business Response The Landings at New Riverside Complaint Description: Failure to adhere to and/or enforce covenants and bylaws. Issue with the decision of the architectural review committee. Status: Satisfied - Adequate Business Response Harbor Island Beach House Ocean Villas Complaint Description: Concerns regarding maintenance or repairs, Request to access information/view documents ignored, Consumer denied right to attend meeting or vote on subject matter changes, Concerns on Allocation of HOA funds, Consumer disagrees with HOA Fees/Special Assessments. Status: Pending Harbor Island Beach House Ocean Villas Complaint Description: Request to access information/view documents ignored, Concerns regarding maintenance or repairs, Consumer disagrees with HOA Fees/Special Assessments, Consumer denied right to attend meeting or vote on subject matter changes. Status: Pending Harbor Island Beach House Ocean Villas Complaint Description: Concerns regarding maintenance or repairs, Consumer denied right to attend meeting or vote on subject matter changes, Consumer disagrees with HOA Fees/Special Assessments, Request to access information/view documents ignored. Status: Pending Harbor Island Beach House Ocean Villas Complaint Description: Concerns regarding maintenance or repairs, Consumer denied right to attend meeting or vote on subject matter changes, Consumer disagrees with HOA Fees/Special Assessments, Request to access information/view documents ignored. Status: Pending Harbor Island Beach House Ocean Villas Complaint Description: Consumer disagrees with HOA Fees/Special Assessments, Concerns regarding maintenance or repairs, Request to access information/view documents ignored. Status: Pending Harbor Island Beach House Ocean Villas Complaint Description: Concerns regarding maintenance or repairs, Consumer disagrees with HOA Fees/Special Assessments, Failure to adhere to and/or enforce covenants and bylaws, Request to access information/view documents ignored, Failure to notify residents of Board actions. Status: Pending University Place North Complaint Description: Failure to produce financial statements, Request to access information/view documents ignored, Failure to adhere to and/or enforce covenants and bylaws, Failure to notify residents of Board actions. Status: Pending Harbor Island Beach House Ocean Villas Complaint Description: Consumer disagrees with HOA Fees/Special Assessments, Concerns regarding maintenance or repairs, Failure to notify residents of Board actions, Request to access information/view documents ignored. Status: Pending University Place North Complaint Description: Failure to adhere to and/or enforce covenants and bylaws, Consumer disagrees with HOA Fees/Special Assessments, Failure to produce financial statements, Concerns regarding maintenance or repairs, Request to access information/view documents ignored. Status: Pending To view the entire list of complaints in South Carolina from 2024, visit the SCDCA complaints webpage. The SCDCA divides complaint statuses into the following categories to help determine the best responses to concerns: Satisfied/Consumer Satisfied: Consumer/complainant received an adequate response to the complaint. Satisfied/Adequate Business Response: A response is received and passes the necessary guidelines from the SCDCA. Unsatisfied: No response received. Referred: The Complaint is handed over to another agency for review. These include: Board of Financial Institutions, Consumer Finance Division Dept. of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Dept. of Insurance Dept. of Public Health Dept. of Agriculture Secretary of State Human Affairs Commission Information: The complaint is informative and has no response requirement. Duplicate: Complaints already filed. Insufficient Merit: Complaint can't be determined based on the information provided/Not a real complaint. Abandoned: Consumer didn't provide all the required information for their complaint. Undetermined: Adequate response was received, but there are disputed facts still in place regarding concerns and response. Pending: Response and label are still under review. To learn more about the different types of complaint statuses, the SCDCA provides a complaint label explanation video. While South Carolina does not have a designated state law detailing how a homeowners association must operate, there are acts and existing laws in place that help determine how HOAs construct their governing documents. These include: The Nonprofit Corporation Act The Horizontal Property Act The Homeowners Association Act To learn more about South Carolina's HOA guidelines and complaints, visit the SCDCA webpage.