How to Lower Your HOA Dues
2026
You’ve probably accepted your monthly homeowners association (HOA) dues at face value. But like any budget, you may be able to reduce that monthly expense. Here’s how to lower your HOA dues.
1. Ask to look at the budget. As a condo owner, you have the right to review the HOA budget. Check it thoroughly. If you have questions, ask the HOA president or a board member.
2. Join the HOA board. If you’re on the board, you’ll have more clout to dig into the HOA’s finances, such as its contracts with the property management company.
3. Review the contracts. An HOA often has agreements with the property management company, a landscaping/grounds maintenance company, and so on. Sometimes, those agreements or contracts may have been negotiated years ago and could be renegotiated today in more favorable terms.
4. Reduce landscaping costs. If finding another landscaping or gardening company isn’t an option, the HOA could reduce the frequency of these services without jeopardizing aesthetics.
5. Determine if the HOA is paying too much in property management fees. In large condo developments, the property management company often leads the effort to reduce expenses. But they’re not likely to suggest lowering their own fees. So you’ll need to work with your HOA directly in exploring ways to reduce the property management company’s fees.
6. Review insurance premiums. Get quotes for insurance premiums. Be prepared to renegotiate with your current carrier once your policy comes up for renewal.
7. Defer non-essential maintenance. Condo owners are often hit with assessments to cover such things as roof repairs. Talk to the HOA board about deferring any non-essential HOA projects for a year or two.
8. Reduce reserves. Every HOA has funds in reserve for unexpected expenses. Ask how much your HOA has set aside. If it’s a lot and no major improvement or repair projects are in the works, ask the board to consider temporarily reducing the amount put into reserves every month.
