Just crossing at the t's and dotting all the i's.

Why can't The Villages hire someone to maintain the outside, and bill it to the homeowner? Then, if it is not paid, they can put a lien on the deed. But, in any event, it seems as though they should have a process in place to deal with this situation that occurs frequently, instead of waiting a year and providing inadequate answers to neighbors who complain. Totally incompetent.

The Villages has nothing to do with this.

The CDD, working with Community Standards, *does* have a process for this:
- A violation occurs
- A complaint is filed
- Community Standards verifies the violation
- The homeowner is notified
- If not corrected then a public hearing is held by the CDD
- If still not corrected a service can be hired to maintain the property with the cost assessed against the home
- If enough fines are built up the CDD can file to attach a lien to the home

But first, there needs to be a violation and a complaint. As long as the neighbors are cutting the grass there is no violation.

Did you read the OP's post? It said:

"It got so bad some neighbors and lawn guy started taking care of weeds and lawn. Community Standards have not helped."

Community Standards and Deed Compliance work together and they occupy the same office and they are on The Villages website. Aren't they part of The Villages? The Deed Compliance office is supposed to address deed restriction violations, and this clearly is a violation. According to the OP, they have not helped, and it has been a year. Shouldn't they at least inform the OP of what is being done, if anything? Shouldn't the Community Standards person who accepted the complaint have provided a copy of the letter they sent to the developer, which they said they would send?

We don't know exactly what exchange the OP had with Community Standards. I have seen them at the CDD meetings doing just what I wrote. It is certainly possible that something broke down in this case. It is also possible that the OP didn't follow through with the process in some way. We just don't know.

The Villages website is for the community known as the Villages and the local government structure that provides services throughout. If that is what you meant when you wrote about the Villages hiring someone then I misunderstood. Too often when someone here uses "The Villages" what they mean is "the Developer" and he is not part of this process; the Developer has given Community Standards and the CDDs the authority to handle it.

What is the violation that that would trigger a letter to the Developer? Not the weeds and grass, we've gone over that. Is a vacant/abandoned home a deed violation or some other concern for the Developer? What would the Developer do about that, somehow repossess the home?

I'll have to go over the thread to see if the numbered CDD can be determined or perhaps the OP can tell us if/when this issue was brought up before their numbered CDD. With that as a starting point, it might be possible to track the progress (or lack of) through the minutes of the CDD meetings.

I don't think it would be a good idea to leave the gas on in an abandoned house. May lead to a lot of excitement in the neighborhood. Also, gas refrigerators give of fumes, open the door and you might find out what happened to the occupant.

Evertything is our business
 

The Villages motto is "Florida's Friendliest Hometown". It really should be changed to "Everything is our business" or "All Karens Welcome".

Hey OP, if you don't own it.........it's none of your business. Get a real hobby.

Yep

Sometimes putting people on the ignore list is the best thing to do.

Maybe you could employ a little "Jewish lightening".

Sometimes it is obvious how some people keep their homes and yards judging by their reactions. Could be it's their ox being gored?

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