HOA Fee Waiver Letter
· Updated
Fill in the highlighted fields to create a letter asking your HOA to waive a fee. Click any field to type your details, then copy the letter. Pay any undisputed amount first, if you can, to show good faith.
[Date]
Board of Directors
[Association Name]
[Association Address]
Re: Request to waive [Fee Type, for example "late fee" or "fine"], account [Account Number], [Property Address]
Dear Board of Directors,
I am writing to ask the board to waive the [Fee Type] of $[Fee Amount] charged on [Charge Date] for [Reason Charged].
The reason it occurred: [Explanation, for example "a bank error delayed my payment" or "I was hospitalized"]. I have [Corrective Action, for example "paid the assessment in full on X" or "set up automatic payments"] to prevent it from happening again. My payment history is [Payment History Statement, for example "otherwise current for X years"].
I enclose [Attachments, for example "the bank confirmation and a doctor's note"]. I would appreciate a response by [Response Date]. I can be reached at [Owner Phone] or [Owner Email].
Thank you for considering this request.
Sincerely,
[Owner Name]
[Owner Address]
What this letter does
A fee waiver request asks the board, as a matter of discretion, to remove a charge. It is not a legal challenge to the fee, and boards may waive fees if the governing documents allow it and they treat similar owners alike. The charge may come from an HOA fine letter or from a late fee added to an account billed by an HOA dues letter.
What makes a request persuasive
- A short, honest reason with evidence.
- A clean record otherwise.
- The fix that prevents a repeat.
- A specific request: waive this fee, not "be lenient."
What boards consider
Boards weigh fairness, precedent and the documents, because waiving for one owner and not another invites complaints. A board may prefer a one-time waiver or a payment plan instead of a full waiver.
If the charge is wrong
If the fee was not authorized or was miscalculated, use a dispute letter rather than a waiver request. For financial difficulty, a hardship letter also asks for a payment arrangement. See the California and Colorado payment plan requests where those states apply.
Related
Understand how charges are set in the late fee letter.
Common questions
Does the HOA have to waive a fee?
No, unless the documents or law require it. It is a request.
Should I keep paying while I ask?
Yes, pay the undisputed amount so the balance does not grow.
This page gives general information and sample wording. It is not legal advice, and requirements differ by state and by association.