Quote:
Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna
If you’ve already closed on your Villages house or villa—it’s too late.
Even if you didn’t read the restrictive covenants, it wouldn’t make any difference. They’re the same for everyone and are ‘non-negotiable’. It’s either agree to the covenants or go find another house in Florida to buy.
But it is important to read and understand the restrictions of the covenants. If you violate them, you will find yourself either paying a hefty fine and/or being required to ‘undo’ any construction or improvements you’ve paid for, putting your home and property back to a condition which satisfies the covenants you agreed to. The Villages is well known for enforcing the deed restrictions ‘to the letter’. Getting the Developer to agree to variations to the covenants is as impossible as negotiating changes before you close on your house.
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Not quite accurate. There are villages that have petitioned and had changes to the restrictions. I know of one village of courtyard villas that had a restriction of only one color, that now has a selection of different home colors. I know of restrictions against villas installing window shutters that now has window shutters. Also screened entryways. Changes can be made IF a neighborhood agrees and the proper process is utilized.
Deed restrictions are different for some districts and the same for others. Just because one wishes changes or deviations to the restrictions, does not mean that they are negative in nature. Whenever one decides to debate a small deviation from the restrictions, immediately we have those that shout that they will have old trucks on blocks in their front yards or purple homes. There are always exceptions to rules and laws. Ask any lawyer and they will find you an exception to even murder. A murder charge can be changed to a manslaughter conviction. A felony charge can be turned into a misdemeanor. By I digress. The point is that IF one wishes to make a legitimate change to their restriction, they should petition for a change and get the consensus of their neighbors. I can ride through a neighborhood in districts one or two and see a multitude of personalized properties. The property value has not been decreased as is the evidence that almost every home you see with a sale sign on it is also "pending" a sale. I drove through one neighborhood where one owner had bordered his landscaping with green beer bottles. I thought "how unusual" but even though it was not my cup of tea, I figured why should it bother me?
Deed restrictions are great and do make for a nice sterile, cookie cutter community. I have no problems with that. I also have no problems with minor adjustments that do not degrade the community into a slum. Rules and laws are flexible. Those rules and laws that are not flexible usually end up shattering eventually.
Point being made is, get permission to modify your property. If denied, then petition for a change in the rules. If denied, then live with it or move to a "nicer" environment. Kind of like, if you do not like a neighbor what do you do? Use the law or move.