Florida Influencer, 28, Claims HOA Is Trying to Force Her Out of Inherited Home in 55-Plus Community

Bethany Michel claims that she is being forced out of the home she inherited from her father due to the HOA’s age requirement

NEED TO KNOW

• A Florida influencer is claiming that she is being forced out of her home in the Freedom at Arbor Mill retirement community

• Following the death of her father, Michel says she inherited his home in the community, which stipulates that residents must be above the age of 55 in order to own property

• After her father’s death, Michel claims she received a notice from the community’s homeowners’ association telling her that she was no longer in compliance with the community’s age requirements and that she must move

A Florida influencer is claiming that she is being forced out of the home she inherited from her late father in a 55-plus community.

Bethany Michel, the 28-year-old content creator behind the social media page @wubzgrubz, said the Freedom at Arbor Mill retirement community HOA voted on Wednesday to assess a $155,000 fee — which would be split amongst the approximately 155 residents of the community, to cover legal costs directed at removing her.

Michel inherited the home in Jacksonville after her father died in October 2023, but she said that shortly after his death, she received notice from the community that, as she was under the age of 55, her residency in the community violated the Arbor Mill covenant.

On Monday, July 13, Michel posted her side of the story on social media.

“There is a 55-plus community that is so eager to get rid of one of their non-55 residents, myself, that on Wednesday, in order to sue me out of my own home, they’re asking 155 residents on fixed incomes to do a mandatory $1,000 assessment,” she said in a video shared on Instagram.

According to a copy of the special assessment meeting notice published by Florida news outlet News4Jax, community members were notified on July 1 of the meeting to vote on the special assessment fee to be charged on Aug. 1 if approved.

“The Board of Directors has approved the following payment options: The full balance ($1,000.00) may be paid in full by August 31, 2026, or homeowners may choose to add $100.00 to their regular monthly assessments starting August 1, 2026 for ten (10) months,” the notice read.

“If you do not make a payment by August 31, 2026, you will be considered late and subject to late fees, collection fees and attorney fees,” the notice continued.

During the assessment vote, which occurred on Wednesday, July 15, Michel claimed that the five board members voted to approve the assessment, which will charge each owner in the community $1,000 to pay legal fees associated with the cost of her removal. Residents who don’t pay the assessment fee will be charged $100 over the next 10 months in order for the HOA board to get the required money, Michel claimed.

“Many residents believed they would have a direct vote on the matter, but when the meeting began, it was announced that only the five board members would be voting…..NOT the approximately 155 homeowners who would be responsible for paying the assessment,” Michel wrote to PEOPLE in an email.

According to the document listed on the Arbor Mill HOA’s website and viewed by PEOPLE, the HOA’s covenants require each home to have at least one occupant who is 55 or older. Additionally, no residents 19 and under are allowed to live in the neighborhood.

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“In the event that an Owner fails to notify the Board and provide all required information within 10 days after a change in occupancy occurs, the Association may levy monetary fines against the Owner and the Lot for each day after the change in occupancy occurs until the Association receives the required notice and information, regardless of whether the occupants continue to meet the requirements of this Section, in addition to all other remedies available to the Association under this Declaration and Florida law,” the covenant states.

The covenant also states that any owner may request an exception to the requirements “based on documented hardship.”

Michel also says that her father signed an addendum — viewed by PEOPLE — upon signing for the house that includes an exception to the community’s 55+ age policy allowing her to retain ownership of the home. However, it is unclear if the addendum allows her to actually reside in the home.

“Beyond my personal situation, what concerns me most is the impact this has on the community as a whole,” Michel wrote in her email. “Many of my neighbors are seniors on fixed incomes, and this assessment could have significant financial consequences for them.”

PEOPLE reached out to the Arbor Mill HOA for comment on Michel’s claims, but did not receive an immediate response.

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