[baobabKoodaa]

> No-one can tell you you can’t change the wallpaper in your own home, or remodel the bathroom, or get a dog.

Yes, the housing association absolutely can tell you not to remodel your bathroom. Unless you literally own a house rather than an appartment, you really don't have a lot more rights than a renter would have.

I am speaking as a Finnish homeowner.

[deergomoo]

Two points:

Firstly I am legitimately surprised that Finland has HOAs. I had always assumed they were a largely American construct (I’m British).

Secondly I was absolutely talking about owning a house rather than an apartment. I feel an apartment is a slightly different situation by virtue of being an inherently shared space.

That said, I still it baffling that someone would try to exert control over what you do with the inside of your own home.

[baobabKoodaa]

> Firstly I am legitimately surprised that Finland has HOAs. I had always assumed they were a largely American construc

The Finnish HOAs are a uniquely Finnish construct. They are in many ways different from the American HOAs, even though the name is the same.

> That said, I still it baffling that someone would try to exert control over what you do with the inside of your own home.

In the Finnish system, as a "homeowner" in a HOA, you actually don't own things such as... the walls inside your apartment. The HOA owns the walls. You own a piece of the HOA and the right to live inside the walls. But if you want to fix damage inside the walls, for example, you need the HOA to do that, because they own the walls.

[dgfitz]

Strange they call it an HOA when it sounds like the basic concept of “home ownership” doesn’t actually exist.

First thing I did when I bought a house was smash a nail in the wall and hang a picture. Well I guess the second, I ripped down walls and painted first.

[baobabKoodaa]

I don't know if I'm translating to English correctly. I mean, technically it does not have an English translation, since the construct does not exist in countries where English is a native language.

The direct translation would be "house company", but that sounds wrong.

[whlr]

If I'm understanding properly, this would be called a "coop" in NYC. I don't think any other cities in the US have them in significant number.

[elevatedastalt]

Most Single Family Homes don't have HoAs. Don't buy one with an HoA. They suck.