Neighbors plants against your villa.

[Dalez]

Have made a few post here on totv not necessary helpful but whatever:024:. However I do have a serious question. We have a courtyard villa and the neighbor on the right side has a jungle growing up the side of the house. Is this something we have control over or are they free to do what they please on their side of our home?

[villagetinker]

Call Community Standards, I have seen the "property lines" on the villas are very confusing. I would take photos of the problem, and stop by the office (Lake Sumter Landing) and discuss what can be done.

[Matzy]

I would go to the neighbor and talk about your concerns and even show them (him) what is the problem. Everybody knows that there are very clear lines how close you can plant to neighbors fence. I think it will be the first step before going "official".

[Dalez]

I will talk to them first. I just wanted to throw it out there for opinions and thoughts. If it were a fence I'm not sure we would mind too much but it is the house itself.

Thank you.

[villagetinker]

Good points, I had assumed there was some discussion prior to the initial post. By all means try talking to the neighbor first.

[Dalez]

In case anyone is interested this was in one of the rule books. As stated we will first talk to the neighbor but I did want to know the rules first.

Courtyard Villa
1. Side Yard: Landscaping shall not disturb the grading of the dominant
easement area, shall be kept a minimum of two (2) feet off the dominant
tenement side yard wall / fence. Landscaping shall also be kept a minimum of
two (2) feet off the servient tenement side yard wall and a minimum of two (2)
feet from the rear property line for storm water maintenance/drainage.

[Topspinmo]

Have made a few post here on totv not necessary helpful but whatever:024:. However I do have a serious question. We have a courtyard villa and the neighbor on the right side has a jungle growing up the side of the house. Is this something we have control over or are they free to do what they please on their side of our home?


Up beside who's house yOurs or theirs? I would think if your house you have the say so due to the growth might damage your property. I was told when moving into court yard villa I could not have anything against my neighbor house in my enclosed villa yard.

[CFrance]

Up beside who's house yOurs or theirs? I would think if your house you have the say so due to the growth might damage your property. I was told when moving into court yard villa I could not have anything against my neighbor house in my enclosed villa yard.
I agree it's not clear from the OP whose house the shrubbery is on.

[wendyquat]

I can't imagine it would be a problem if it was against op's wall!

[CWGUY]

I agree it's not clear from the OP whose house the shrubbery is on.

Name of Thread: "Neighbors plants against your villa." Seems clear to me. :wave:

[Barefoot]

Name of Thread: "Neighbors plants against your villa." Seems clear to me.

No, it really isn't clear. I've lived in a CYV. I can't imagine neighbors would enter a fenced yard uninvited to plant a "jungle" against a house that isn't their own. :confused:

[CWGUY]

No, it really isn't clear. I've lived in a CYV. I can't imagine neighbors would enter a fenced yard uninvited to plant a "jungle" against a house that isn't their own. :confused:


I can imagine it. That is why both of my CYV gates have locks on them. :22yikes:

[CWGUY]

Think back to when you were in a CYV. You go out your side slider into YOUR yard. Your neighbor's long wall without windows is right there. It's your yard to maintain, but his wall. People plant against that wall. Some people plant a jungle and think it looks nice ????? There you go...."Neighbors plants against your villa." You only see it if you look in his yard. :wave:

[fred53]

Not sure why some are confused. It is very obvious that the OP meant the neighbors planted against their house and if you cited the rule correctly your neighbors plants being against the house are improper.

[Dalez]

It is our house but the side that faces the neighbors patio doors. The side where you would let your neighbor know you had to come in to patch some paint, etc.

Just worried about mold and the condition of the house behind the plants.

Thank you for all the responses. Might be lot of folks have this same problem but not even think about.

[ditka41]

I'd have a friendly conversation with the neighbor about how quickly they'd be removing the unwanted growth. If they don't offer a good response to that, I'd give everything touching my wall, and within the 2ft "no grow" zone, a liberal dose of "Round-Up" vegetation killer. Then your problem would be reduced to dead plant removal. That may not promote a great friendship with the neighbor, but obviously they don't care much anyway.

[j8384]

Talking to them first sounds good, in a perfect world, they would be willing to remove the plant growth, and you would remain friendly neighbors. Yeah, a perfect world. The way I see it, is they know that wall is part of YOUR home, YOUR property, but, they don't care. Keep in mind, once people get told to stop doing something, that will usually end any type of friendly neighborly feelings. I would just let the authorities tell them. Either way, you loose a neighbor. Keep in mind, those people more than likely know exactly what they are doing is wrong using your home. Just kind of wondering, how did you discover they did this?

[perrjojo]

CYV do present some interesting dilemmas.

[DangeloInspections]

I hesitate to post on this, but I see this all the time doing CYV inspections. I think the original poster has the right to be concerned. Plants should never be close to the exterior wall, as it could contribute to pest intrusion. Some Ivy's will attach themselves to the exterior and are almost impossible to fully remove.

Also, the biggest enemy of your home is moisture intrusion. In a CYV mass design concrete/stucco home, a homeowner should at least once a year monitor the exterior walls for cracking. Cracks need to be filled and painted to guard against moisture intrusion. If the wall is covered or obscured by plants, you cannot adequately do this.

I have even seen adjacent CYV owners screw ornamentation, trellises, etc. to their neighbors CYV....many times without the owner's knowledge.

When I do an inspection for a CYV, I always ask if the homeowners could arrange access to that side, as I NEED to inspect that side of the home. Sometimes I cannot do that.

Frank

[MDLNB]

I just want to thank the contributors of this thread for enlightening me on this issue. Apparently, I was oblivious to the problem that might occur with my landscaping along the side of my neighbor's home. When I purchased and moved into my CYV, there was a few plants, including a camellia along the neighbor's wall and a sprinkler system already installed. Attempting to dress up my view from my dinning room sliding door, I planted along their wall, not even considering the possible damage it might cause eventually. Since I do like my neighbors, and want to be considered, considerate I will remove all the vegetation along that wall, and disable the sprinkler system. I do have a jungle in my backyard and have had plenty of positive comments from my neighbors. My wife wanted a jungle and I provided it. But, I can see how this might upset some and do not wish to be a neighborhood nuisance and will immediately remove any vegetation along their home. The jungle in the back yard will remain though. I guess I never considered a problem with planting along a stucco wall before now. My neighbor is outspoken and probably would have mentioned it to me if it bothered them, but I do not wish to put any strain on our relationship, so I will take immediate action to circumvent any possible bitterness in the future. Even though I am not the subject of this thread, I have learned from this discussion. Normally, I am not concerned about what others do with their landscaping, as it is "their" property, but I do try to be a good neighbor on my side of the property line. Thanks again for the edification.

I have seen many homes in my neighborhood that do plant along their neighbor's blank wall, probably not realizing the concern it might cause. Many may be as myself, ignorant of possible consequences.

[Newbeginnings]

I had a neighbor in my other life outside the villages that planted along our fence, we stayed within a setback with the fence and she just took it all over. When it came time to stain the fence all her plantings died as we had to stain on that side (I did warn her what we were doing) , she was very upset but I reminded her she was on our property. It caused a strain, we didn't talk anymore and I should have said something the day I noticed her digging along the area, and I didn't. Harder as time goes on. Nip it in the bud now.

[NY MOM IN FLA]

I live in a court yard villa and if something was attaching itself to and growing up the wall of my home I would mention it to the owner of the plants if no action is taken I would clean the growth off my home before it damages the paint or siding.

[readmore]

Many people are not aware that vegitation against a building allows easy access to insects and rodents, also possible damage from scraping in high winds.

[carpej]

When we moved in to our Courtyard Villa, we signed a document that said we were responsible for the area in question, but that we had to allow access to that area for the neighbor whose house it is, for maintenance, so we were responsible for any thing inside of the gate to our backyard.

[John Palanci]

You have the right to protect your property, if it's a small bushes that has shallow rot system I 'm not sure if I would worry, however that may also attract pests, if it's a tree type bush that can interfere with your foundation, if they are absentee owner or snowbirds try to contact them, if not contact your community management. Post a follow up and let us know how you solved your problem.
Good luck

[villagetinker]

I just want to thank the contributors of this thread for enlightening me on this issue. Apparently, I was oblivious to the problem that might occur with my landscaping along the side of my neighbor's home. When I purchased and moved into my CYV, there was a few plants, including a camellia along the neighbor's wall and a sprinkler system already installed. Attempting to dress up my view from my dinning room sliding door, I planted along their wall, not even considering the possible damage it might cause eventually. Since I do like my neighbors, and want to be considered, considerate I will remove all the vegetation along that wall, and disable the sprinkler system. I do have a jungle in my backyard and have had plenty of positive comments from my neighbors. My wife wanted a jungle and I provided it. But, I can see how this might upset some and do not wish to be a neighborhood nuisance and will immediately remove any vegetation along their home. The jungle in the back yard will remain though. I guess I never considered a problem with planting along a stucco wall before now. My neighbor is outspoken and probably would have mentioned it to me if it bothered them, but I do not wish to put any strain on our relationship, so I will take immediate action to circumvent any possible bitterness in the future. Even though I am not the subject of this thread, I have learned from this discussion. Normally, I am not concerned about what others do with their landscaping, as it is "their" property, but I do try to be a good neighbor on my side of the property line. Thanks again for the edification.

I have seen many homes in my neighborhood that do plant along their neighbor's blank wall, probably not realizing the concern it might cause. Many may be as myself, ignorant of possible consequences.

A very positive proactive viewpoint, good for you. As I mentioned before, the layout of these houses and the property lines are very confusing, as I saw in a previous thread. When we decided to add our birdcage, we spoke to the neighbor, I staked the property line, and even painted the outline of the structure on the lawn, and discussed the design of the addition. We copied their birdcage design to provide continuity between the houses. This approached has worked very well.

[caroleartchilds]

I would think not, even though it is a wall of their house. The sidewalk on your side is on your property. I know the house washers always clean that wall as part of the residense they are cleaning.

[MaryRDH]

In case anyone is interested this was in one of the rule books. As stated we will first talk to the neighbor but I did want to know the rules first.

Courtyard Villa
1. Side Yard: Landscaping shall not disturb the grading of the dominant
easement area, shall be kept a minimum of two (2) feet off the dominant
tenement side yard wall / fence. Landscaping shall also be kept a minimum of
two (2) feet off the servient tenement side yard wall and a minimum of two (2)
feet from the rear property line for storm water maintenance/drainage.
I've lived in FL all my life & always knew it is bad to have any plant/tree/vine on your home's wall. One reason is because of bugs, especially TERMITES! My Mom got termites from a small tree touching her eave & had to tent the house!
I've seen people intentionally grow a vine on their entry wall! Looks good, but makes this Southern girl cringe. 😣

[NotGolfer]

I've seen "jungles" planted around "free standing homes" here as well. I think in the beginning the landscape people plant small bushes/trees that grow huge. They don't think, long-term into the future of how they'll look. Though I do know of "some" folks who've done this on purpose thinking it will give them privacy. That may be, for them! BUT for the neighbors it can look messy and be an eye-sore, unless they keep them nicely trimmed etc.

Critters are the other concern! I personally do not want to invite them into our yard!!