Allowing access to your “courtyard” villa
 

Has anyone had to do this? You must allow access to a pest control company so your neighbor can spray 4 sides of their home... You have a dog that is in your courtyard, now subject to the chemicals... Actually most of your courtyard is their property... What can you do if you don’t want your little piece of paradise to be subject to pesticides?? I’m thinking not much...

I'm thinking you're thinking is right. You might want to reconsider not using pesticides around your villa.

I don’t want the pesticide.. it’s my neighbor who I am supposed to give access too.. it’s upsetting, I’m worried about my dog.. she is a 10lb elderly dog.

We have 2 dogs and we have a company that treats our lawn. They told us to keep the dogs off the lawn for 2 hours and then they could go back on the lawn. We have lived here 7 1/2 years and have not had any problems.

You are thinking correctly. It is not your property, and, as long as the pesticide is legal, your neighbor can spray their house and their property.

Your deed probably gives then access. Read the deed and see if it does.

This is one of the pitfalls of living in a villa, you neighbor has the right to access the area to perform maintenance on their home and you have the obligation to allow them to access. Their need and request for pest control is not considered an unreasonable request.

You could talk with your neighbor and tell them your concerns of the chemicals and you pet. If you agree to pay for alternative treatments of pest control that would satisfy you concerns, it would probably go a long way to resolving the issue. The downfall of course could be if there is a problem and the alternative treatment was unsuccessful you could be held accountable and liable for any damages to the home due to ineffective treatment. A good example of this would be if there is a termite issue.

If you're unwilling to take the steps to reasonably address the issue then you will find yourself on the wrong side of the argument. If you refuse them access, contrary to the deed restrictions you agreed to, you can and will be held legally accountable for any remediation, costs, and inconvenience the home owner incurs.

Living in a courtyard villa community has its own unique set of challenges and compromises. While the details vary from community to community and neighbor to neighbor issues like these come up all the time. You were forewarned at closing, maybe not in so many words but by the restrictions you agreed to, if you read them or not.

And Yes, I live in a courtyard villa.

:ohdear: You live in a CYV..... do you just treat 3 sides of your home?

https://www.districtgov.org/departme.../CourtYard.pdf

Sorry you didn’t know this. It should of been explained to you before you brought CYV. Your neighbor has the right to protect his property. Also you can not have anything touching his house wall nor have irrigation spraying on his house. There is one foot easement from his house on you’re side. If you damage his house you can be held responsible.

:confused: Reading their history they have been here 7 and a half years..... how did they not know? Does anyone do any research? Due diligence? :ohdear:

I live in a CYV and my neighbor has been there less than 2 years. She has a key to my gate lock and standing permission to enter if needed with a phone call. If no answer..... go ahead I'm not home. I still wonder if the OP treats all around their home. :)

Guess you did not read the op never said I was here 7 1/2 years.. And yes, I do understand that I do have to give the neighbor access.. I am not disputing that or their right to put chemicals around their house.. I am only stating my concern for my dog.. and has anyone else had this issue..And how were they able to handle it.. again only looking for advice... I am glad that you and your neighbor can share keys that is a wonderful thing! But has nothing to do with my concern..

I don't know how anyone else in a CYV would handle it. We waited a day or until the sprinklers went off before allowing our dog onto the treated grass at our designer. Our CYV is all stone landscaping, and the neighbors have one of those buried liquid termite protection systems, which means they don't spray for anything. Perhaps you could pay for that for your neighbors so they wouldn't need to spray. Or keep the little one off the patio for a day or two. I understand your concern.

I didn't know most of my courtyard is their property. My patio, landscaping, et al? Guess I didn't read my deed restrictions either.

The only chemical that they would need to spray is for termites and that would done right up against the neighbors house. It soaks in and should not be harmful to you dog. Find out who your neighbor uses and call them and ask them about what they are using and your concerns.

You would be responsible for any plants that need a pesticide inside your courtyard

Just keep the gate locked and coordinate their entry so you can keep your dog off the grass for the required amount of time. I believe the chemical I use says keep pets away for one hour as it dries.

Once again someone bought without checking what they bought into.

i'd keep your little one away from the sprayed area until the 1st good rain comes due to her age. i know its a bother, but why risk it? if it were my dog, i'd keep her away from it. best of luck!

I have no problem with this. I get advance notification, I close the pet door and keep my pet indoors for at least 3 hours after spraying (although they tell me only one hour is advised). I've been doing this for 5 years and I have no problem with it nor have I had any ill effects in my dog. My gate is always locked so NO ONE is getting access to my courtyard without my permission.

I don't see in either of your posts that you have tried to discuss this with your neighbor. Since you are asking for advice, that is what I offer.

I don't own a CYV but a friend of mine just purchased a pre-owned CYV in Hadley and will be closing soon on the property.

I understand your concern. So....the property that is located in your neighbor's courtyard is actually YOUR property? I don't quite understand this logic of the design of the Courtyard Villas. Can anyone shed some light on this?

I have a feeling my friend doesn't know about this "quirk" of the Courtyard Villas.

:ohdear: The link in Post #8 shows where property lines are in a CYV neighborhood and who has responsibility for different areas. I posted it to HELP people understand. I can't click on it for you! It was part of my DUE DILIGENCE before buying. Due diligence..... look it up! :popcorn:

The legal property line runs down the middle of the adjacent houses, and there is a gate on each side of your house. You have access to only one gate, but part of your property is only accessible by using your next door neighbor's gate and vice versa. You have the responsibilty to maintain all property inside your gate, except the house, even though about 5 feet of land inside your gate is actually owned by one of your next door neighbors. You also are responsible to provide access, as needed, by your next door neighbor, to maintain their house, for painting, pest control, etc. This is a little easier to understand when looking at the property plats.

It's really not a big deal. You're neighbor's property line is a few feet from the edge of their house. This is also true for your friend's property line on the other side of his house if he has anything other than a corner lot. While his neighbor owns the property he is responsible for maintaining it (per the guidelines in the deed restrictions). This is similar but reversed for the landscaping adjacent to his home but facing his neighbor's home (by their driveway and near the gate to his back yard). He owns the property but the neighbor is responsible for maintaining the landscaping. In many cases, your irrigation system is likely watering your property but your neighbor's landscaping. It's all very clearly spelled out and shouldn't be a problem. As with almost any home, it helps to be a good neighbor and communicate when needed. The language is scarier than what happens in practice. I'm sure there are exceptions to this but if it was such a horrendous problem there would not be so many folks enjoying their CY villas.

One thing to be aware of is that, if your next door neighbor is a snowbird, you should occasionally check to make sure their sprinklers, located directly under your eaves, are not broken. I have seen two cases where a neighbor's house was flooded by water spraying under the eaves and entering the house.

[QUOTE=kingtutt20;1711898]The only chemical that they would need to spray is for termites and that would done right up against the neighbors house. /QUOTE]

A pesticide is also sprayed around the outside of the house, on the ground and lower part of the wall, to prevent ants and other insects from entering the house. This is usually done quarterly.

I have asked around with the FL locals and with TV residents who have been here for years......no one has ever seen any termites......fire ants, yes, but termites, no. Block/stucco homes and villas only have wood from rafters up, not on ground floor. Home Depot has bags of diatomaceous earth that slices any exoskeleton of an insect that crawls across the powder and then they die from dehydration. Some farmer locals just pour used car/tractor oil close up/around the exterior of the foundations of their barns to keep any possible termites away, but even none of them that I spoken with have had termites. Anyone else actually have real info other than what is marketed to us at TV from those who want to repeatedly sell you a product?

Sorry, should have said that.. Yes, I did speak with my neighbor when I gave them access...I expressed my concerns.. his answer was.. he was doing it 4 times a year and power washing 2 times.. Again.. this is his right.. I am not disputing that..
I’ve had some good replies and then the sarcasm.. but that’s to be expected.. some people just can’t help themselves..
Was looking for ideas from people in similar situations..

The unique selling feature of CYV is a fully enclosed backyard with a fence. The vinyl fence on the back of the home will join the home on the back corner, not run all the way to the front between homes, which is customary. So one side of your home is exposed to your neighbor, not a fence, therefore all designs have no windows on that side. However, you cannot reach the exterior of that side unless you go into the backyard of your neighbor.

We've been in a CYV 9 years this coming July. Three times our neighbor has asked for us to open the gate so the exterminator can spray. Usually they're ejecting a spray into the ground for terminates and that is all. We've asked our other neighbor one time for access so that Oscar could paint that side of our home. It's not a big deal usually.

I'm not tech'y and cannot find how to start a new thread on a different topic how did you do that?

Allowing a Pest Control Company to access your villa for the neighbors spray
 

I have just done the same thing and I have a small older dog. It is the right thing to do and the neighborly thing to do. In my case, I talked with the pest company, Florida Pest, and was told the chemicals are safe to both humans and pets. Keep your dog indoors for the day they are spraying just to play it safe and for your own peace of mind. Pest & termite control is a necessity in FL, so you do need to allow access.

Several people have referred to spraying.. They used granular.. kind of puffed it around the foundation.. The person doing the work told me I could wet it, that would activate it and it would be absorbed into the soil.. this is what I have done.. yesterday and today.. not fun..

I was told 5 ft easement?

Thank you.

:ho: Check the survey you probably paid for before your closing. Found mine with all the closing paper work. :)

CYV are not like other properties. Property lines are to be ignored. Villas vary in size and shape and the cross the lines in various amounts. It is, at least partially, because your side yard sits behind your neighbor's front yard. It makes living in the villas make sense. This link was posted before but here it is again.

https://www.districtgov.org/departme.../CourtYard.pdf

we just moved in to our court villa and was told not to go out the gate .we have two . we just were her just I day not happy wont talk to him at all

:what:???

I don't get it either, but it's not the first time someone mentioned having two gates in their CYV. About a month ago someone posted about it. I can't picture where the second gate would be or what it's used for.


Maybe the neighbor put a gate in the white fence so they could access that side of their house?

:) I have two gates. Live in an end unit and only have another unit on 1 side of me. We have property on all 4 sides. We also have windows on all 4 sides and a bathroom window. Bedrooms each have windows on two different walls for cross ventilation. :coolsmiley:

That's nice, but I still don't understand why the poster was told not to go out one of her two gates.

:confused: I don't understand either. Only thing I can think of is they live next door to the neighbor from hell and he doesn't want them going past his spare room window. If it were me.... that gate would be slamming nonstop. :boxing2: