SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio woman is sharing her story after winning a nearly three-year legal battle against her homeowners association, hoping it encourages other homeowners who feel like they’re fighting the same fight.
Elizabeth Luna owned a rental unit at the Oaks Northwest community, a development of just 11 townhomes near the San Antonio Medical Center. Luna, a landlord who provides housing to long-term residents and traveling professionals, purchased the unit with no rental restrictions in place, according to court records.
That changed when HOA President Terri Thomure pushed to ban short-term rentals — a move Luna says was the beginning of a targeted campaign against her.
According to Luna’s lawsuit filed in Bexar County’s 438th District Court, Thomure called a special meeting in March 2023 to pass the rental ban. However, court records show the meeting did not comply with proper notice requirements under Texas law, making the amendment void.
>> What is an HOA? Understanding homeowners association fees, responsibilities
Luna says she tried to comply anyway, securing a 12-month lease with a long-term tenant. But according to court documents, Thomure approached the tenant’s assistant in the parking lot — without identifying herself — demanding personal identification information and details about the visit. The interaction was so unsettling, the tenant canceled her lease days later.
When Luna attempted to sell the property, the HOA tried to block that too, filing a legal claim against the home that a judge later threw out. Luna sold the unit in May 2024 and took the HOA to court.
“What was going through my head when all of this was happening is the abuse of power of the homeowners association,” Luna said. “I’ve seen online and on the broadcast multiple stories about homeowners associations running amok — boards not following rules and harassing and making homeowners’ lives difficult.”
This past May, Bexar County District Judge Monique Maz ruled in Luna’s favor. The HOA was ordered to pay $10,743.39 in damages and $10,000 in attorney’s fees. Thomure was personally ordered to pay $12,500 for tortious interference with Luna’s rental contract — bringing the total judgment to more than $32,000. Luna confirmed both have paid.
“My only recourse after that was to take them to court. And so that’s what I did. And it was a three-year battle,” Luna said. “But overall, the judge saw the truth, and we prevailed.”
Luna says she hopes her story is a wake-up call — both for homeowners who feel powerless against their HOAs and for board members who think they can operate without accountability.
“If you find that your board members are not following the rules, hold them accountable. Hold them to a higher standard,” Luna said. “Because often they abuse that power.”
For Bexar County residents looking to file a civil suit against their HOA, claims under $10,000 can be filed through a local justice of the peace court. Larger claims can be filed through the Bexar County district clerk’s office at 100 Dolorosa, Suite 104, San Antonio, Texas, 78205, or online.
Read also:
Copyright 2026 by KSAT – All rights reserved.