Background

A 2018 change to state law (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-30-340) requires DCA to collect certain data from complaints involving homeowners associations (HOA). Information collected is to be reported to the Governor, General Assembly and the public by January 31st each year.  The Department issued the first report on January 31, 2019.  The report is in a categorized, filterable and searchable format.  The Department is reviewing the complaint data received in conjunction with the complaints forms for potential improvements. Any suggestions for content or process improvements may be submitted to DCA by e-mail or snail mail.

For more information on the Homeowners Association Act, click here.

View tips on searching and filtering data within the spreadsheet (PDF).

Current Report Information

View the 2026 Complaint Report (PDF), 2026 HOA Complaint Data Report (XLS) - The information contained in the report is compiled from complaints received January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025. 

2026 Executive Summary

The overall number of consumer complaints filed with DCA has risen significantly in recent years. Looking at calendar year 2019 compared to 2025, there has been a 111% increase in the number of consumer complaints filed with the agency. HOA-specific complaints have increased 176% during this same time frame. HOA complaints comprised 8.5% of all complaints received by the Department in 2025.  The total number of HOA complaints filed in 2025 was down slightly (5%) from the 2024 total of 617. Even with the decrease in total number of HOA complaints filed the number included in the report increased by 4%. 

GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS

• The Department received 586 HOA complaints during calendar year 2025. Of that amount, 134 complaints were excluded from the report: 13 did not meet the statutory requirements for inclusion, 39 were duplicates and there were 4 referrals to the SC Human Affairs Commission. The largest number excluded (78) were the result of complainant's failure to submit the required HOA Supplemental Questionnaire.  These (13%) were closed as "Abandoned."
• The 2026 report contains information from 452 complaints filed against 339 HOAs/Management Companies.
• The complaints raised 1,104 concerns with multiple included in a single complaint.  This is an increase of thirty percent over 2024. The top three types of issues raised were: (1) Failure to adhere to and/or enforce covenants and bylaws (16.8%), (2) Concerns regarding maintenance and repairs (11.7%), (3) Request to access information/view documents ignored (9.5%).
• Complaints came from twenty-three of South Carolina’s forty-six counties. Top 3 counties for complaints reported overall are: (1) Horry (31%), (2) Richland (12%), (3) Greenville (9%). The top three counties for complaints reported per capita (per 1,000) are: (1) Horry (.38); (2) Georgetown (.24); (3) Dorchester (16).

COMPLAINT RESOLUTION HIGHLIGHTS

• Sixty-eight percent of complaints included in the report were closed indicating receipt of an adequate business response. Consumers were satisfied with the outcome of the complaint resolution process in four complaints (0.88%). Examples of satisfactory resolutions include resolution of payment disputes, requested financial information being provided and repairs or maintenance being made.
• Nineteen percent of complaints were closed "Undetermined" due to disputed facts. This is a four percent increase from the prior year. The Department closes complaints that are complex and/or contentious in nature under this category due to the agency’s statutory limitations.
• The number of complaints closed as "Unsatisfied" due to an HOA’s failure to respond decreased in 2025 to (5.5%).  This is down from 42 complaints (9.7%) to 25 in 2025. 

STATUTORY DATA HIGHLIGHTS

• Eighty-five percent of HOAs employed a management company.
• Ninety percent of consumers indicated they were informed of the requirement of membership in a HOA as a condition of home ownership. Thirty-two percent indicated they received a copy of the HOA governing documents prior to purchase while fifty-three percent of responses indicated receiving the documents after purchase.
• Ninety-eight percent of those filing a complaint indicated they had communicated their concerns to the HOA or management company prior to filing a complaint with DCA.
• State agency oversight was the number one recommendation for enforcing governing documents (31%). Having a dispute resolution process within the HOA was second (26%), followed by enforcement of provisions through magistrate’s court (16.8%) and a HOA Ombudsman (16.6%).
• Top 3 recommendations for changing provisions of governing documents include: (1) Requiring open meetings/ notice requirements (27.5%), (2) Setting parameters for viewing/ copying documents and records (18.1%), and (3) Forbidding a HOA from placing liens or foreclosing on a property (14.1%).

Prior Report Information

View the 2025 HOA Complaint Report (XLS) ; 2025 Executive Summary (PDF) - The information contained in the report is compiled from complaints received January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024.

View the 2024 HOA Complaint Report (XLS) ; 2024 Executive Summary (PDF) - The information contained in the report is compiled from complaints received January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023.

View the 2023 HOA Complaint Report (XLS) ; 2023 Executive Summary (PDF) - The information contained in the report is compiled from complaints received January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022.

View the 2022 HOA Complaint Report (XLS) ; 2022 Executive Summary (PDF) - The information contained in the report is compiled from complaints received January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021.

View the 2021 HOA Complaint Report (XLS) ; 2021 Executive Summary (PDF)  - The information contained in the report is compiled from complaints received January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020.

View the 2020 HOA Complaint Report (XLS) ; 2020 Executive Summary (PDF) - The information contained in the report is compiled from complaints received January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019.

View the 2019 HOA Complaint Report (XLS) - The information contained in the report is compiled from complaints received June 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018. 

Special Report Information

View the 2025 Seven-Year Complaint Report (PDF) -SCDCA is releasing a compilation of the HOA complaint data received from June 1, 2018 - December 31, 2024. Individual annual reports can be found above.

View the 2023 Five-Year Complaint Report (PDF) - In celebration of the "Homeowners Association Act" fifth anniversary, SCDCA is releasing a compilation of the HOA complaint data received from June 1, 2018 - December 31, 2022. Individual annual reports can be found above.