A plumbing dispute left a homeowner struggling with repairs, but persistence led to reimbursement from her HOA. Disputes are common among homeowners associations, though ones involving plumbing are not always resolved.
Homeowner Faces Plumbing Dispute With HOA
Debra Richert noticed water flowing down the street almost every morning outside her townhome, sparking a plumbing dispute. Despite the constant flow of water, her water bill remained unchanged, which puzzled her.
Richert observed water pooling near her front porch and called the HOA and a plumber to address the issue. After further investigation, a leak detection company found a leak in a pipe under a large tree in her yard. Tree roots had wrapped around the pipe, causing a small puncture that led to a muddy mess.
To fix the problem, a tree removal company had to remove the tree before the pipe could be repaired. The tree removal and plumbing repair cost was approximately $3,000. This became a financial burden for Richert, who lives on a fixed income.
Richert informed the HOA of the issue, but they initially declined to take responsibility for the repair costs. Frustrated by the lack of response after multiple calls, she contacted local news for assistance.
The news station contacted the HOA management company, and a representative agreed to investigate the situation. A couple of weeks later, the HOA decided to reimburse Richert for the tree removal and plumbing repair expenses. The outcome brought relief after a lengthy dispute.
