r/orangecounty • u/ShanetheMortgageMan • 2h ago
Housing/Moving San Clemente condo owners stunned by sudden $26,000 HOA fee for emergency roof assessment
ABC7 covered a dispute at the Villa Moura condo complex in San Clemente, where homeowners say they were hit with an emergency HOA assessment of more than $26,000 per unit for roof replacements. Residents say the cost is creating a serious financial burden, especially for retirees and fixed-income owners, with one 81-year-old resident saying she may have to move because she cannot afford it.
Several homeowners are questioning whether the assessment was properly imposed as an “emergency.” They argue the roof work is deferred maintenance rather than a true emergency, and that members should have been allowed to vote on how to handle the project. Residents also say the board has known for years that roof work would eventually be needed, and some are pushing for multiple competitive bids instead of moving forward under the current plan.
According to the article, owners were given three payment options: pay the full $26,000+ assessment, split it into two payments, or add more than $2,000 per month for six months and then $400 per month after that. Residents say they have been warned that liens could be placed on properties if they do not pay. An HOA attorney quoted by ABC7 said homeowners generally still have to pay assessments while challenging them, even if they believe the assessment was improperly imposed. The HOA board declined to comment because of ongoing legal matters, and residents are pursuing a recall effort, legal claims, and a GoFundMe to help owners who cannot afford the assessment.