Bad HOA
by LS Carlson Law
Latest episode
Can Your HOA Do That? 6 Homeowner Questions From Reddit
Can Your HOA Do That? 6 Homeowner Questions From Reddit
About this podcast
Welcome to "Bad HOA," where host Luke Carlson, Esq., a seasoned attorney with over 15 years of experience, empowers homeowners to reclaim their neighborhoods from mismanaged homeowners associations. This podcast delves into the myriad ways HOAs can fall short of their duties, providing listeners with a how-to resource to handle disputes and understand different personality types within HOAs. Each episode features in-depth analysis of common homeowner grievances, interviews, and real-life situation assessments. "Bad HOA" equips you with the knowledge to ensure that your HOA serves you.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 52 episodes
- Can Your HOA Do That? 6 Homeowner Questions From Reddit · 34 minA lot of HOA overreach starts to come apart once a homeowner asks one question: where does the board's authority to do this actually come from? Luke Carlson and Marty bring back…
- HOA Mediation: What Actually Happens and How to Prepare · 49 minIf your plan is to sue your HOA, California law has a step you have to take first, and getting it wrong can cost you the money you spend winning. Mediation is the most…
- Win Your HOA Lawsuit, Lose Your Attorney's Fees? What You Need to Know About ADR · 48 minMost homeowners arrive saying the same thing — I want to sue my HOA — but in California, filing too early can quietly cost you the right to recover your attorney's fees. After…
- Proving HOA Negligence: Duty, Breach, and the Paper Trail That Wins · 52 min“My HOA is negligent” gets said a lot — but negligence is an actual legal claim with specific parts, and knowing them is the difference between a complaint your board ignores and…
- A Bad Neighbor and a Bad HOA Aren't Always Two Separate Problems · 47 minWhen a neighbor violates the CC&Rs and the harm lands on you, your first instinct is to fight the neighbor. But the bigger fight is often with the association that knows about…
- How One Appeal Changed California HOA Election Rights · 40 minMost homeowners lose an HOA election before a single ballot is counted—because the board controls who gets to speak. In this episode, Luke Carlson and co-host Marty are joined…
- Failure to Repair: When Your HOA Won't Fix What They Should · 58 minYour roof is leaking. Mold is spreading. The board won't return your calls — or tells you it's your problem when it isn't. In this episode of Bad HOA, Luke Carlson and Marty…
- How to Use Your CC&Rs to Hold Your HOA Accountable · 49 minMost homeowners think their CC&Rs only tell them what they can't do. In this episode, Luke Carlson and Marty break down why CC&Rs may actually be one of the most powerful tools a…
- Is your HOA enforcing rules against you while giving your neighbors a free pass? · 40 minIn this episode of the Bad HOA Podcast, attorney Luke Carlson and co-host Marty revisit one of the most requested topics in the series — selective enforcement. Nearly 50 episodes…
- If You Can't Dismantle Your HOA, What Can You Do? Real Alternatives That Work · 34 minThis episode is the follow-up homeowners have been asking for. After our episode on the "nuclear option"—the idea of dissolving an HOA entirely—we heard from a lot of listeners…
- The Real Limits of Your HOA Architectural Committee's Power · 48 minArchitectural control committees are at the center of some of the most common—and most frustrating—HOA disputes. Paint colors, patios, fences, solar panels, landscaping: if it's…
- Why Dissolving Your HOA Probably Won't Work (And What to Do Instead) · 36 minWhen homeowners are fed up with a bad HOA, dissolution often sounds like the perfect solution. Just get rid of it entirely. But as this episode explains, the "nuclear option"…
- New California HOA Laws for 2026: What Homeowners Need to Know · 30 minCalifornia has enacted several new HOA laws effective January 1, 2026, continuing the legislative trend toward greater homeowner protections and transparency. This episode breaks…
- The Homeowner Empowerment Kit: Turning HOA Disputes Into Organized Action · 30 minMost HOA disputes don’t fall apart because the homeowner is wrong—they fall apart because the paper trail is a mess. In this episode of Bad HOA, we introduce the Homeowner…
- The STRIKE Method: A Homeowner’s Framework for HOA Disputes · 30 minIn this episode of Bad HOA, Luke Carlson and Marty Vasquez introduce the STRIKE Method, a practical framework homeowners use to approach disputes with clarity, documentation, and…
- HOA Transparency 101: What Records You Can Request, How to Get Them, and What Happens When Boards Refuse · 38 minThis episode came straight from the r/BADHOA community. After asking which topics you wanted us to cover next, the most upvoted theme was clear: HOA transparency—what records…
- We Just Built the Homeowner War Room: Introducing the Bad HOA Subreddit · 17 minHomeowners dealing with unfair HOAs have a new place to unite, share strategies, and build real power: the official Bad HOA subreddit.In this episode, Luke and Marty discuss how…
- The Homeowner-First Playbook: How to Push Back on a Bad HOA (Before You Lawyer Up) · 46 minMost HOA disputes don’t start in a courtroom—they start with a confusing letter and a lot of emotion. In this episode, Luke and Marty break down a practical approach for…
- HOA Rules 101: What Needs a Vote and What Doesn’t · 40 minIn this episode of Bad HOA, Luke and Marty pull back the curtain on how HOA rules really work. They explain the difference between CC&Rs, bylaws, and everyday regulations—when…
- HOA vs Property Management: Who’s Really in Charge? · 23 minMost homeowners think their battle is with the property management company—but here’s the truth: they’re just the hired help. In this episode, attorney Luke Carlson breaks down…
