COLUMBIA, S.C. - The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) has released the first Homeowners Association (HOA) Complaint Report. Recent changes to state law require SCDCA to collect certain data from complaints involving homeowners associations and report it annually. The inaugural report is a compilation of data from complaints received June 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018. Some of the highlights include:

•    SCDCA received 92 HOA complaints from June 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. This is a dramatic increase from the previous four-and-a-half-year period when SCDCA received only 167 HOA complaints.
•    The report contains information from 89 complaints as two were duplicates and one was considered information only due to a pending lawsuit.
•    86 consumers filed complaints against 42 HOA/Management companies.
•    Only 2.2 percent of complaints were closed as "Unsatisfied" due to a business' failure to respond. This is sharp decline from the 13.2 percent of complaints closed this way from January 1, 2014 to May 31, 2018.
•    13 percent of complaints were closed as "Abandoned" due to the complainant's failure to submit the required HOA Supplemental Questionnaire.
•    Top Three Counties for Complaints: Richland (53.2%), Horry (14.1%) and Greenville (9.8%).

A dedicated page has been added on SCDCA's website containing background information on the report, the report in excel format, tips on searching and filtering the report data as well as an Executive Summary. The report is presented in a categorized, filterable and searchable format and can be viewed in its entirety by visiting our website and clicking on News, then Reports.

SCDCA processes and mediates consumer complaints against businesses regulated by DCA, refers complaints that fall within another agency's jurisdiction, and mediates those complaints against businesses that are unregulated. To file a complaint, visit our website and click “How Do I…”then the “File a Complaint?”option. 

About SCDCA
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs aims to protect consumers from inequities in the marketplace through advocacy, complaint mediation, enforcement and education. To file a complaint or get information on consumer issues, visit our website or call toll-free, 1 (800) 922-1594.