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HOA toilet complaint

Started by PoopP1 • 13 replies • 112 views

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PoopP1 (Maryland)
Posts: 7
Posted:
We have been living in this community for 13 years and the treatment that we’ve been getting from the HOA has been absolutely ridiculous. We have a public restroom that was built in 1950 now obviously it’s not the cleanest and it has toilets with black toilet seats in it and it absolutely reeks now I will tell you this smells like poopy butt and it really stinks bad. I’ve been trying to get the demolish for years, but the HOA president uses the bathroom and he says that he wants to keep it. How do I deal with this?
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,108
Posted:
A few of questions?

When you say public, do you mean that anyone may use it or it's simply on common area for any member, their tenants or guests to use?
Where is the restroom located (at a pool, by the playground, etc.)?
Are you in a condominium development or single family home (SFH) development?
Does the Association employ a cleaning service for the restroom?

PoopP1 (Maryland)
Posts: 7
Posted:
This is a single family development built in the 1950s. There’s asbestos all over the place and this park bathrooms been in this small park since the 1950s now it’s rotten and old and it’s falling apart. I will let me give you a description of what it looks like.:

You walk in and it reeks of old piss and an old gym locker. There’s a picture of a man on the left side when you walk in. I believe he is the owner of that bathroom from the 1950s ? Not sure what that picture is there for . There’s one side for woman and one side for men. When you walk into the men’s side, there’s no urinals. It’s all black toilet seat toilet. Now the ceiling is extremely high. I would say about 15 feet up, which makes it even creepier. It kind of makes you dizzy looking up at the ceiling. The toilets are original too, so they don’t flush very well and some of them have broken ceramic on them. The sinks are old from the 50s and the knob is broken off half the sinks so you can’t even turn the water on. I think back in the early 90s they installed hand dryers that you can put your hands under. They only last for two seconds and they shut off. There’s a small supply closet with water fountains outside the water fountains don’t work anymore ever since Covid. I think it’s ridiculous. The supply closet is absolutely full of asbestos. I’ve complained about this already, but nobody cares..
PoopP1 (Maryland)
Posts: 7
Posted:
No, I had said something to the HOA president about this bathroom saying that it’s unsanitary and it’s better just to tear it down since the Park is used for recreation. It’s not needed. “He said well me and my wife use it and just because you don’t use it doesn’t mean other people don’t want to use it. Just who do you think you are telling me what to do?”
MarkM19 (Texas)
Posts: 1,460
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By PoopP1 on 07/23/2026, 8:46 AM

No, I had said something to the HOA president about this bathroom saying that it’s unsanitary and it’s better just to tear it down since the Park is used for recreation. It’s not needed. “He said well me and my wife use it and just because you don’t use it doesn’t mean other people don’t want to use it. Just who do you think you are telling me what to do?”

Mr poop,
Does your HOA have reserves for maintenance? This is a reserve expense and should be refreshed as needed. If I were you, I would take pictures of the area because that will speak louder than your voice at a meeting.
It sounds like your president is making the decision to ignore this issue. Is there other board members? What does your wife say about the Ladies restroom? Is it also in disrepair?
How large is your HOA? Are you the only one who is complaining? There is strength in numbers.
PoopP1 (Maryland)
Posts: 7
Posted:
Yes, they’re strength in numbers. I just don’t understand why people would want a 1950s Park bathroom in the middle of a Park. I can understand the convenience of need to go to the bathroom, but I don’t understand why people would want to go to a bathroom in an asbestos filled paint, peeling bathroom. I might call the city on this because there’s actually asbestos insulation and tile that’s actually coming undone which is creates a cancer hazard. I’m gonna take pictures of it and send it over to the state so they can look at it.

If I’m not mistaken, almost everything built before 1978 has asbestos in it. This park bathroom was built in approximately 1951 when the development was built. So it’s obviously a piece of junk.

My wife does not enjoy going to that bathroom. I’m sure a lot of people wouldn’t enjoy going there. I’ve seen people running out of their screaming because of how scary it is. I’m sorry but an old stinky bathroom with an extremely high ceiling with rotten toilets that have black toilet seats are enough to scare anybody.

I wonder if the pipes have asbestos in them as well. I have no idea if other people are complaining I’m assuming they’re not because most of these people are older or foreign.
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,108
Posted:
Based on your description, it does sound like the Association has deferred the maintenance required to maintain the restrooms.

Regarding your mention of cleanliness in the first post:

The Association may or may not have the authority to remove the restrooms.
You will have to check the governing documents to see if restrooms at the park are mentioned as an amenity.
Knowing that Maryland has some large developments, there may be an applicable statute regarding the restrooms at parks/recreation areas (you will need to check).
Even if both of the answers above are "no," if the restrooms have been there since the beginning of the development, it will likely take a membership vote to remove the common element.
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,108
Posted:
I ran out of time to edit my earlier posting that I accidentally hit submit by mistake.
Please ignore that posting and look at this one:

Based on your description, it does sound like the Association has deferred the maintenance required to maintain the restrooms.
This may have been done for financial reasons. Have you looked at the financials?
If not you should.
If you have:
Are the restrooms included in the reserve study?
Are the Reserves fully funded (meaning the amount of money needed to be set aside each year is actually being deposited to the reserves)?
Are all members paying on time (has an impact on operational expenses and deposits to reserves)?

Regarding your mention of cleanliness in the first post:

A later posting mentioned that there is a supply closet but you never answered if the Association contracts a cleaning service for these restrooms.
Do they contract for a cleaning service or handyman to maintain this common element or do they rely on volunteers?

Regarding potential removal:

The Association may or may not have the authority to remove the restrooms.
You will have to check the governing documents to see if restrooms at the park are mentioned as an amenity.
Knowing that Maryland has some large developments, there may be an applicable statute regarding the restrooms at parks/recreation areas (you will need to check).
Even if both of the answers above are "no," if the restrooms have been there since the beginning of the development, it will likely take a membership vote to remove the common element.

Regarding your approach to the Board about the issue:

It sounds like your approach to the Board did not go over well. Keep in mind that the President is simply one member of the Board and decisions are made by a majority vote of the Board.

Perhaps you could take the time to do some research and put together a proposal to the board indication the cost to repair, the continuing cost to maintain (clean/supply) vs the cost to demolish. Keep in mind that if asbestos is in the building, asbestos removal is expensive. So determining the amount of a potential special assessment to the membership to make that happen should be included in the proposal.

Speaking of costs (as this will give us an idea of expenses and potentially provide better answers):

How large is your Association (number of lots/units)?
What is the annual assessment?
Does the Association utilize a management company?
What amenities/common elements do you have? (you mentioned a park and restrooms, do you have a clubhouse, pool, playgrounds, settling ponds, etc.)?
ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 1,383
Posted:
How do I deal with this?
Legally your best option by far is this: You run for the board with people who feel as you do and hopefully win a majority of the board seats.
LayaS (Nebraska)
Posts: 253
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By PoopP1 on 07/23/2026, 10:46 AM

Yes, they’re strength in numbers. I just don’t understand why people would want a 1950s Park bathroom in the middle of a Park. I can understand the convenience of need to go to the bathroom, but I don’t understand why people would want to go to a bathroom in an asbestos filled paint, peeling bathroom. I might call the city on this because there’s actually asbestos insulation and tile that’s actually coming undone which is creates a cancer hazard. I’m gonna take pictures of it and send it over to the state so they can look at it. 
If I’m not mistaken, almost everything built before 1978 has asbestos in it. This park bathroom was built in approximately 1951 when the development was built. So it’s obviously a piece of junk. 
My wife does not enjoy going to that bathroom. I’m sure a lot of people wouldn’t enjoy going there. I’ve seen people running out of their screaming because of how scary it is. I’m sorry but an old stinky bathroom with an extremely high ceiling with rotten toilets that have black toilet seats are enough to scare anybody. 
I wonder if the pipes have asbestos in them as well. I have no idea if other people are complaining I’m assuming they’re not because most of these people are older or foreign. 

It's likely that this toilet does not meet code requirements for sanitation. You might want to check with your local Health Department or whatever governing body is in your area that regulates these things. It may be some law or ordinance that requires removal.
Take pictures and explain the situation as you explained it in your post. Someone may come out to check it. I used to live in Iowa with very strict sanitation laws regarding pit toilets. In my rural development there were not allowed. It was by a major water source for thousands of people so that may be the reason. Are you located by a body of water? That may make a difference.

I read your replies to me about my meeting minutes post. The moderators deleted it. I'm not sure what your point was.
PoopP1 (Maryland)
Posts: 7
Posted:
Thank you for all the kind replies. I’m absolutely appalled by what I saw today as I walked by the bathrooms. There’s hornets nest all over the place and there’s a leak under the sink. I’m gonna take a specimen of that water and take it over to a lab. I have to find out what’s in it. I believe it’s possibly lead. That could lead to a major problem for the state.

The toilet has a stain on it. They hired a cleaning company. They come and clean, but obviously not good enough because the bathroom stinks. Like I said, I’m terrified it is already so I don’t like walking in it specially looking up at the ceiling. I swear looking up at the ceiling will make you dizzy!

Just for the record also has those privacy block glass that they used to have in the 80s. They are very dirty in the grout is dirty.
ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 1,383
Posted:
I’m absolutely appalled by what I saw today as I walked by the bathrooms.
Excellent. This would not be the first time a little outrage resulted in a new member of a HOA's Board of Directors.

Happy campaigning. Go get 'em.
JoeN6 (Virginia)
Posts: 95
Posted:
Where is Md is this, Montgomery county or PG ? This is where the public water and sewers are regulated by the Washington suburban sanitary commission. They can be incredibly difficult to work with , during plumbing renovations. We call them the Water Mafia. Good luck with them after the hoa board gives in.

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