HOA Records & Your Rights: How to Get Them—and What Happens When Your HOA Says ‘No’

What records does an HOA actually keep? What are homeowners entitled to see? And what happens when a board refuses to hand anything over?

This episode was built directly from the r/BADHOA community’s questions. Luke and Marty break down the different types of HOA records, how owners in California can request them under the Davis–Stirling Act, and why transparency often becomes the only real leverage homeowners have when dealing with a difficult board.

Even though we focus on California’s legal framework, the ideas in this episode can help you understand what to research in your own state and why records matter so much in any HOA dispute.

In this episode we discuss:
• The types of records HOAs are required to maintain
• How homeowners can make a clear, effective request
• What you can learn by reviewing financials, contracts, and minutes
• How ignored requests turn into leverage
• The practical fallout for boards that refuse transparency

We made a TL;DR version for those of you who want the cliff notes:
   • What HOA Documents are a Homeowner Entitle...  

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro: Homeowner Rights & Transparency
04:48 - California Civil Code 5200
08:00 - What Documents You Can Request
16:05 - What Documents Are Off-Limits? (Privilege & Privacy)
22:25 - How to Properly Submit a Request (Step-by-Step)
24:22 - Deadlines: How Fast Must the HOA Respond?
26:09 - Can the HOA Charge You for Copies?
28:20 - Penalties: What If They Ignore You?
33:02 - Summary & Key Takeaways

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Connect with Us

Web: https://lscarlsonlaw.com/hoa-disputes
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Social:
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Bad HOA Podcast:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Fghhb6...
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
YouTube:    • Bad HOA  

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This is not legal advice. Every state has different laws, and your situation may be different. But if you’re trying to figure out why your HOA is stonewalling—or what tools homeowners might use to push for accountability—this is a valuable place to start your own research.

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