Residents in Lakeville, Minnesota are calling for more oversight and accountability after their Homeowner’s Association ordered expensive roofing repairs they say they didn’t need.

Five of those residents have decided to sue their HOA and its Board members after being stuck with roofing bills totalling $17,000 each. While the HOA claims that extensive damage following a hailstorm in July 2023 necessitated repairs for each property, the residents say that independent assessments of their homes found that their roofs were in good repair and not damaged by the storm.

Now, these homeowners have until the end of July to make the payment, or risk losing their homes for an association lien closure.

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What the lawsuit alleges

According to a report from KSTP, the five plaintiffs allege that the HOA did not properly verify damage to each individual unit, and instead approved a sweeping, multimillion-dollar repair job. They also say the board has failed to provide promised documentation of the damage.

Attorney Steven Little, representing the five homeowners, believes the agreement was made to benefit the roofing contracting company, Gittleman Construction and Maintenance Corporation, which is an affiliate of FirstService Residential, the property management company for the Avonlea Townhome Association — both of which are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

“Most of these roofs have no damage at all,” Little told KSTP. “We have independent roofing contractors’ reports that show there’s nothing wrong with these roofs. These are people’s homes, and now they’re being threatened with losing their homes for an association lien closure if they’re not able to come up with the $17,000.”

Little has filed a motion to put the payment process on hold on until the HOA shares more information about the roofing assessments and work.

“My hope is that we get a court hearing,” Sarah Conlow, one of the plaintiffs, said. “That they look at all the evidence that we have from across the community and hold off charging homeowners the assessment until we get answers.”

The HOA’s response

In a letter to homeowners dated June 5, the HOA stated that repairs were necessary following “extensive storm-related damage”, and that the total cost of replacing or repairing roofs on 32 buildings would amount to $2.5 million, to be split among all 147 homeowners.

“Yeah, it was shocking to get that notice,” homeowner Raj Logama Naidu told local news station KSTP. “My insurance only covers $1,000.”

Under Minnesota law and the association’s governing documents, the board is “legally obligated to repair the damaged roofs,” and this obligation “is not optional and cannot be waived or subjected to a vote,” according to the spokesperson.

However, KSTP reporters learned that the board committed to providing a report on the damage done to each home. Instead, a report that showed photos of an unidentified home was delivered, totalling only 12 pages.

Utilis Vinson, HOA Association Board President, said to KTSP that “it’s possible” that the HOA board did not do their due diligence in sharing photos or documentation of damage with homeowners.

FirstService Residential did not respond to a request for comment from the KTSP team.

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Do HOAs have to get approval for major repairs?

When you buy a home in a community governed by a homeowners association (HOA), you agree to follow its rules — including those covering property appearance, structural modifications and maintenance responsibilities. You also agree to pay regular dues, which can vary widely: from $859 a month in New York to just $64 in Idaho, according to a 2024 estimate in the 2024 Condominium Assessments Analysis by the Foundation for Community Research.

But in addition to monthly or quarterly dues, HOAs can also impose special assessments for large-scale repairs or improvements. In most states, board approval is all that’s needed — not a majority vote from homeowners.

That said, HOA members do have rights. You can:

• Request documentation of damage or project necessity, including inspection reports and bids
• Attend board meetings to ask questions and formally raise concerns
• Ask to inspect financial records and review how past dues have been used
• Request a delay or payment plan for costly assessments
• File a legal complaint if you believe the board acted improperly, such as failing to document decisions, choosing affiliated contractors without transparency or acting in bad faith

If you’re considering buying into an HOA, ask for a copy of the association’s financial reports, bylaws and reserve fund details before you sign. And if you already live in one, stay involved. Attending meetings and reviewing financial decisions can help you push back before major and costly changes are made.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.