This 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 exist, what homeowners are entitled to see, how to request them without getting ignored, and what it means when a board simply refuses to comply.

In this episode, Luke and Marty break down the types of records HOAs are required to maintain under California’s Davis–Stirling Act, how homeowners typically submit requests, what those records can reveal in a dispute, and why ignored requests often become powerful leverage. Even if you’re outside California, the concepts discussed here can help you research the rules in your own state.

We made this episode because the community asked for it—literally. The outline came directly from your comments on the episode request thread.

This episode covers:
• What records HOAs keep and what owners are entitled to
• What documents are off-limits (privilege, privacy, investigations)
• How to make a proper written request under California Civil Code §5200
• How long the HOA has to respond
• When fees are reasonable—and when they’re weaponized
• Penalties and consequences when a board stonewalls
• How transparency becomes a homeowner’s strongest leverage

For those who prefer a quick breakdown, we also recorded a short TL;DR version: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/y37LxKSNXrQ

This is general information based on California law, not legal advice. HOA laws vary by state—always consult an attorney in your jurisdiction for guidance on your specific situation.

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Bad HOA Podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Fghhb6ZjG1GfG7F4PDcNA

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bad-hoa/id1743840073

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe8IADUDqQ0jtUvHKS6447Xf1bphf03ZE&si=piqR0WTgJWxZWe7F

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