The homeowner's association (HOA) of a wildfire-ravaged community gave residents a $23,000 bill due within a month and threatened lawsuits if they don't pay up.
Residents of the La Vina community in Altadena were notified by the HOA on July 29, 2025, of the gargantuan fee, giving them 34 days to pay by September 1, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Homeowners were forced to pay the bill to help repair damage caused by the Eaton fire last year.
The January fires, which tore through ritzy LA neighborhoods, left at least 31 dead and decimated 57,000 acres of land. Altadena was among the community's worst hit.
La Vina itself lost 52 of its 272 homes but has already begun rebuilding 70 percent of those destroyed, along with repairing communal spaces, according to the outlet.
Residents who did not chip in by paying the $23,614 bill were subject to late fees, a lien on their home, regardless of whether it was damaged, and 12 percent annual interest.
A community member whose home was burned down was sued by the HOA in March to enforce a lien and pursue foreclosure on the vacant lot to pay outstanding debts owed to the association.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15678177/hoa-sues-homeowners-altadena-california-wildfire.html