As a retired lawyer and condo owner (in an HOA) I am not surprised about the installers saying they won't take an indemnity from the owner as protection against the HOA. HOA jurisdiction is recorded in the county recorder's office and there is legal notice against the world. In other words, "ignorance of the law is no excuse." The electrician just doesn't want to pay a title company to do a title search so he asks the owner if there is a HOA. There are plenty of owners who would sign an indemnity whether out of general ignorance (i.e. they're not aware that they could end up paying for a lawyer and judgment for the electrician) or because they know they can't or won't have to back it up. E.g., people planning to file for bankruptcy, renters who only pretend to be owners getting installation without the owner's knowledge, anyone planning to move out of state in a year or so such as military or foreign workers, etc. You get the idea. The electrician who modifies the building without HOA approval can end up liable to the HOA if they decide the charger violates HOA CC&R's, or at the very least could end up having to defend a lawsuit even if they are not liable. Good luck trying to serve (or collect a judgment against) the veteran now living in Costa Rica on his military pension. I do NOT recommend lying as a strategy to avoid this, but that is not legal advice, just good advice.