Residents of a Las Vegas condominium community have scored a significant victory against their homeowners association (HOA) after it attempted to impose a dramatic 78 percent increase in monthly fees. The proposed hike would have pushed monthly dues from $275 to $490, threatening the financial stability of many, particularly pensioners and those on fixed incomes.
A Community Rallies Against Financial Burden
The Richmond Park HOA, managed by Level Community Management, had planned to implement the new fees from January for the Bavington Court community. For people like 73-year-old Denise Holden, who lives on a fixed income of $1,208 per month and has survived two strokes, the increase would have been catastrophic. She expressed her profound relief, stating it was "more than a relief, it's fantastic because I thought I was going to lose my home and everything else."
Another resident, Carole Cotero, who earns $14.50 an hour, highlighted the severe financial strain many face, telling local media, "I'm lucky if I could buy $25, $30 of groceries per week, and that's cutting it." The sentiment was widely shared, with Holden adding, "Many, many, many of us here cannot afford the increase at all."
Questioning Management and Conditions
The proposed fee surge was met with scepticism and anger, not least because residents complained of poor maintenance and a lack of amenities. Denise Holden described the community as a "junkyard" and a "piece of crap," citing junk left uncleared and questioning where their existing fees had gone, especially after hearing community reserves were as low as $11,000.
Carole Cotero echoed these concerns, noting that only one of three community pools was open for limited summer hours. She also reported a lack of lighting, insufficient security leading to thefts and car break-ins, and a requirement for residents to handle their own landscaping.
The Petition That Forced a U-Turn
The residents' salvation came in the form of Nevada HOA regulations, which allow homeowners to overturn an operating budget if a majority sign a petition rejecting it. The threshold for the Bavington Court community was 137 signatures. The organised residents surpassed this, gathering 151 signatures to successfully block the massive increase.
As a result, the monthly dues will remain at $275, with a new vote scheduled for a minor adjustment of $22.50. However, the victory is bittersweet and applies only to the regular operating budget. Under Nevada law, a separate charge known as a special assessment for major repairs or projects does not require homeowner approval and must still be paid.
This legal provision, coupled with the fact Nevada law sets no specific annual cap on HOA fee increases, leaves ongoing anxiety. Resident Christy Escamilla cautioned against full celebration, telling reporters, "If it stops it for this next year at least, I have time to prepare for the next one and we know that we could do it, so hopefully it works again." The community's fight has provided a temporary reprieve, but the underlying tensions between residents and HOA management remain unresolved.
