A 28-year-old man is facing eviction from his inherited home following his father’s death, as he is being asked to cover legal fees tied to the situation.
Bethany Michelle mentioned that “155 elderly residents” are expected to contribute toward legal costs from an HOA that aims to remove her from Jacksonville’s Arbor Mill Retirement Community, sharing her story on TikTok on Monday.
“We have a 55+ community looking to evict me, one of their younger residents. On Wednesday, they’re asking for a $1,000 mandatory fee from 155 residents who are on fixed incomes to kick me out,” Michelle stated.
She disclosed on Instagram that five members approved a special assessment meant to support the HOA’s legal battles.
“They convinced 155 people that they were part of the decision,” Michelle claimed. “But it was really just five board members speaking on behalf of everyone else.”
Michelle has been part of a retirement community since moving to Florida in 2020 to care for her sick father during the pandemic.
After her father’s passing in 2023 and inheriting the house, the community voiced their dissatisfaction with having a younger neighbor. She recalled receiving a notice three months post her father’s death, stating her residence didn’t comply with community guidelines.
“I’m basically being kicked out,” she shared with the media. “They’re even trying to take my office away.”
Michelle reported that her access to community facilities has been blocked as she battles through legal challenges.
If residents don’t pay the assessment fees, Michelle mentioned they’ll incur a $100 charge over the next ten months to help the HOA raise funds.
“Not only am I paying a lawyer to defend myself from being evicted, but I also have to cough up for a thousand-dollar assessment,” she expressed. “I’m basically paying both sides while trying to file my own lawsuit.”
The community remains divided over the lawsuit aimed at her removal.
“As someone with a child, I don’t think it’s fair to just push her out,” neighbor William Baltazar noted. “Most people are against this move. Very few support it.”
Some residents, though they disagreed with the eviction, felt obligated to adhere to the community’s age restrictions.
HOA regulations stipulate that each home must have at least one resident over 55, and no one under 19 can live nearby, according to the reviewed documents.
Ownership transfers to individuals under 55 are allowed if they meet specific occupancy conditions.
The governing law for the HOA was established to align with federal regulations surrounding age-restricted community operations, ensuring their legal validity under the Housing for the Elderly Act (HOPA).
Despite the challenges, Michelle remains determined and hopeful. She recalls her father’s promise to ensure she could stay in her home.
“How many in their 20s or 30s can realistically become homeowners today?” she asked. “Owning a home is incredibly difficult, yet my father worked so hard to create a path for me. He assured me I could stay.”
“I’ll love everyone, even those who oppose me,” she concluded. “Like it or not, you’ll have to watch me thrive. I’m not going anywhere.”
