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HOA Violations, only a select few?

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by IRideYZFR6, May 23, 2010.

  1. IRideYZFR6

    IRideYZFR6 Linux Guru

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    I am truly amazed that only living here a little over 2 years I have had 3 violations with notice to fix or end up with fine, and yet my neighbor continuously has his grass over a foot long, and I am not exaggerating. You know it's long when the grass starts sprouting seeds.

    1st - Had mesh put into side fences then decided not to put in ground pool, violation. I had to take wire cutters and remove, loss of material cost.
    2nd - Had to remove "Beware of Dog" sign. Ok a little ghetto, I can see that.
    3rd - Dead tree in front yard, replaced, cost $400.

    As soon as I got my HOA violations letters I fixed the issue in a matter of days. But yet, my neighbor continuously lets his yard go, to include trees, bushes, shrubs and his grass. So what is going on? Is he not getting violation letters? Or is he saying screw you, HOA?

    We need a submit form on the front page to submit such violations.
     
  2. HelloKitty

    HelloKitty New Member

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    Well, I don't know if I'm your neighbor, but we did receive a letter about long grass this week! It's taken care of now, but what is unsettling is that it's in the back yard of a townhouse that has a privacy fence up. The letter stated that this was noticed during a routine inspection. There was also a picture. Does anyone know if it's HOA policy to open gates to inspect and take pictures?
     
  3. IRideYZFR6

    IRideYZFR6 Linux Guru

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    This is a single family home I am referring to and his front yard, well his whole yard for that matter.

    They also took a picture of my dead tree, but the way they took it there is a live tree behind the dead one, so the dead one looks alive in the photo.

    So you got a letter, was your grass over a foot long? Just trying to figure out what is the max height that one has to cut their grass, because my neighbor has to be well over the limit.
     
  4. PowerPlay

    PowerPlay Member

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    You got a letter and took care of it. Some people don't care, don't care about the fines, or anything else.

    They might be having financial issues and having trouble paying their mortgage so an HOA fine is small potatoes. Just speculating.

    or they might just not care in general. The HOA can send as many letters as they want but they can't go in and force them to do something.
     
  5. mdcrim

    mdcrim Member

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    I thought the HOA's, after a certain amount of time, can go in and fix violations, then bill the owner for the work.

    When we first moved to Ashburn Farm many years ago, we got a violation for or trash can not being in the garage (honestly, we hadn't read the HOA docs). Our neighbor two doors down got one for his shed not having shingles and the pipestem neighbors across the street (4 houses) got violations because the guy who volunteered to paint the four posts did not use the approved color. It was a regular violation ridden street. THEN, one of the neighbors moved away... I don't think anyone has had a violation since...
     
  6. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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  7. msflynn

    msflynn New Member

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    It depends on the HOA. For Mowing yes Broadlands will go in and mow the property if it is not rectified but this is after several violation letters and a hearing notification.
    IRideYZFR6 - yes any person appointed by the board including the board itself may walk onto your property to do an inspection. This includes opening gates and taking pictures.
    You are not the only one who is getting violation letters - as for your neighbors high grass I know the inspectors have been mailing out many violations for this recently. If you are concerned your neighbor has been missed please call the HOA office and leave the address and one of our inspectors will make sure to view the property.

    Staci
     
  8. IRideYZFR6

    IRideYZFR6 Linux Guru

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    Staci-

    HOA can come in my backyard anytime they want, heck tell them to bring their swimming trunks next time and they can use my Jacuzzi and have a beer for all I care. What I concerned about is they are spending all this time looking for infractions, sending them out, taking pictures, but since I bought in 2008 I continuously see my neighbor with high grass, and when I mean high it is growing seeds at the top, his dead brush blows into my yard, etc.

    There is no way my neighbor was overlooked, give me a tractor and bailer and I will harvest you a couple of bails for your farm animals out of his front yard.

     
  9. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Iride - most violations are reported by neighbors. I would recommend that you do call the HOA office and voice your concerns.
     
  10. msflynn

    msflynn New Member

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    My guess is your neighbor is constantly in violation and consistently getting letters only to either resolve it right before the hearing so the process starts all over again. We have many people here who do that. And yes it is possible that because the inspectors are having to come to his property they are seeing other things in neighboring properties as well. I sent you a PM to explain the process a little better.

    Staci
     
  11. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    Actually they can (to a degree), we all signed the covenants also know as design guidelines for our community.

    I know in some cases the HOA has mowed the offending laws and then sent the owners a bill.

    As far as "if" the HOA can enter your property for routine inspections etc...this is covered under the covenants and it is within the HOA's scope. Bottom line the HOA has the authority to do so and will take pictures of the offense to include in the violation letter.
     
  12. HelloKitty

    HelloKitty New Member

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    Has anyone ever had their lawn taken care of by the HOA? I'd be curious to know how much it costs.
     
  13. mamatothree

    mamatothree New Member

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    If you are cited for a lawn violation and fail to remedy it, HLS will cut the grass and you will be charged $45 if you live in a townhouse and $75 if you live in a single family. Unless you live in a section of Southern Walk where landscaping is included in your HOA fee, the HOA does not "take care" of lawns.
     
  14. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Residents should keep in mind that the $45/$75 special fee doesn't include the fines you would have accumulated bringing the HOA to the point of having to bring HLS to cut the lawn. Anyone thinking of not cutting their lawn and waiting for the HOA to bring HLS in would be in for a very unpleasant surprise in regards to HOA fines, etc. Believe me, you DON'T want to go that route ;)

    Not pointing any fingers at anyone, just making a general informational statement...
     
  15. msflynn

    msflynn New Member

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    Quick correction - because hearings only occur once a month your lawn will be mowed after 2 letters. The 1st one gives you a date for you to have it remedied and the second gives you the date HLS will be mowing the property to the added fees. If HLS has to be asked to mow your property more then once a season then you will be called to a hearing before the board.

    Staci
     
  16. PowerPlay

    PowerPlay Member

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    My next door neighbor (not here) used to hang her bras and underwear from her balcony and I complained about it EVERY DAY, but nothing happened and I had to look at her underthings for 8 months until it got too cold I guess. Then I moved so that was that. Just saying, grass is one thing... but they can't go into her house and make her take down her bras.
     
  17. HelloKitty

    HelloKitty New Member

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    Well, I didn't mean to imply that I was going to use the HOA as a landscaping service, I just wondered what the fee was :notfunny: Like I said, it's all cut now so hopefully no hearing or fines for us!
     
  18. Imaginary Friend

    Imaginary Friend New Member

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    I also received a notice in the mail. The grass in my back yard was overgrown - fair enough. I mow the front yard every weekend once the weather warms up, but admittedly skipped the back yard for two weeks. Grass was long, not out of control, but whatever.

    I don't have a problem with receiving a HOA warning letter and photo. What I DO have a problem with is that the violation "photographer" climbed over my backyard fence (high town house fence) to take the picture that was sent to me. I keep my back gate locked and the picture was taken from inside my yard.

    If this person we to have fallen while trespassing on my property, would I have been liable for the accident?

    I understand the reasoning behind the HOA letters, and nobody is happy to receive them (including myself), but scaling a 6 ft fence because the back yard wasn't mowed for two weeks seems a bit extreme.

    FWIW, I mowed my back lawn earlier in the day that I received the letter in the mail anyway.
     
  19. mamatothree

    mamatothree New Member

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    As was mentioned earlier, I believe, the covenant inspector, as an employee of the HOA, was not tresspasing. The governing documents of the HOA allow representatives and agents of the Asociation access to your property to document and correct violations. The inspectors often take documenting photos over the fence using a small step ladder. Should they be injured while performing their job, their injury would be handled the same way any other job related injury would be treated.
     
  20. Mel

    Mel New Member

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    I would be a little more than freaked out if I noticed someone poking their head over my fence and then taking pictures of my backyard (or a neighbor’s backyard for that matter). I would call the police without hesitation. Seems to me the HOA should give notice and a general time frame of when inspections are going to take place.
     

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