HOA Hardship Letter
· Updated
Fill in the highlighted fields to create an HOA hardship letter that explains your situation and asks the board for a payment plan, waiver or extra time. Click any field to type your details, then copy the finished letter.
[Date]
[Name of Homeowners Association]
Attn: Board of Directors
[Association Address]
Re: Hardship request, [Property Address], account [Account Number]
Dear Board Members,
I am writing to ask for help with my HOA balance of $[Balance Amount]. [Hardship Explanation, for example "I was laid off on DATE and am receiving unemployment benefits while I look for work."]
I intend to pay what I owe. I am asking the board to [Request, for example "accept $X per month for Y months," "waive the late fees of $X" or "extend the due date to DATE"]. I expect my situation to [Expected Change, for example "improve by DATE, when I start a new job"]. I have attached [Attachments, for example "a termination letter and recent pay statements"].
I have paid my assessments on time for [Payment History] and value being part of the community. Please let me know what additional information you need, and whether I may attend a board meeting to discuss this.
Thank you for considering my request.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Property Address]
[Phone or Email]
[Signature]
What an HOA hardship letter does
An HOA hardship letter asks the board to adjust how or when you pay because of a genuine difficulty. It explains the circumstances, proposes a specific solution and shows you intend to pay. Boards usually have discretion over payment plans and fee waivers, so a clear, honest request often works better than silence. It usually answers a delinquent dues letter or a late fee letter.
Be specific about the ask
- A payment plan. Propose an amount and length that you can keep.
- A fee waiver. Ask to waive late fees, interest or fines, not the underlying assessment.
- More time. Name a date and the reason it will be possible.
California and Colorado have their own letters for requesting a payment plan: the California payment plan request and the Colorado payment plan request.
What to include
- The balance and the cause of the hardship, stated factually.
- What you can do and when.
- Your payment history, if good.
- Documents, such as a layoff letter, medical bills or pay statements. Share only what you are comfortable sharing.
- A request for a written agreement, so the terms are recorded.
Tips
Contact the association before the account is referred for collections. Pay what you can on schedule while you wait for an answer, and keep the agreement in writing. See also the payment plan request and the HOA fee waiver letter.
Common questions
Do HOAs have to offer payment plans?
Some states require them, and many associations offer them voluntarily. Ask, and check your state's rules.
Will a hardship letter stop collection?
Not automatically. Keep paying what you agreed, and get any plan confirmed in writing.
This page gives general information and sample wording. It is not legal advice, and requirements differ by state and by association.