[JoMar]

Originally Posted by Challenger

and I suspect a class action would be upheld since none of the restrictions that I read violate any Florida law or public policy. I don't believe that a CDD decision can allow a violation to stand if brought to their attention. I believe that it would require a 100 per cent agreement by all property owners subject to the restriction. There may be a supermajority provision however. ( be glad to hear from someone if my statements are incorrect -but give citations .

Ever live in a place with an HOA?

[Challenger]

Originally Posted by JoMar

Ever live in a place with an HOA?

Three , in fact.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

So it's OK to complain about deed violations only "in you’re own district" but rag about apartments all over The Villages. Isn't that hypocritical?

Yes! After all it MY OPINION

[merrymini]

You signed onto deed restrictions when you bought here so obey the rules. I would prefer to see people from other districts enforce the rules. I bought here BECAUSE of those restrictions and paid more for it. The rules changed because the older districts allowed more to be put out. Rules are to protect the neighborhood. You can easily go outside the villages and take a good look at what happens when you do not have them. Reading these reactions tells me a great deal about how many nasty, selfish people are on this site. Amazing.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Judy n Ron

I have said this for the last 9 years we've lived here: Shame on you who violate the restrictions. Have you no pride in curb appeal? You are affecting the property values for yourselves and your neighbors. For those that have a weed infested pig sty yard, is this the way you lived in your previous home without restrictions? Now that said, SHAME ON THE DEVELOPER AND COMMUNITY DISTRICTS that force neighbors to report each other. Every other blasted community have standards folks that drive the neighborhoods and writes up offenders. There is no need to start potential neighborhood feuds over rules THEY created. I'll not report anyone--personal choice, but certainly respect those that do, even if it's not in their own neighborhood. What does that have to do with it? All weed and mildew infested properties reflect badly on The Villages as a whole.
It's sickening. Ron

Village’s s kinda big for that?

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by Thetwisted2

Tried to get a permit to widen my driveway 4 feet at my patio villa, I was told 2 ft was the maximum allowed. There are around 7 driveways in my neighborhood that have exceeded the 2 ft maximum and look nice. I am going to have mine widen 2 ft and live by their rules.

Good for you! Be sure to keep a copy of your ARC approval paperwork so it’s readily available when you wish to sell your home. It could avoid a hassle.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Challenger

and I suspect a class action would be upheld since none of the restrictions that I read violate any Florida law or public policy. I don't believe that a CDD decision can allow a violation to stand if brought to their attention. I believe that it would require a 100 per cent agreement by all property owners subject to the restriction. There may be a supermajority provision however. ( be glad to hear from someone if my statements are incorrect -but give citations .

Then you haven't read the laws or compared them to the deed restrictions. I've pointed out two previously, so have a couple of other people, on several different occasions.

One being the antennae/satellite dish issue. The other being clotheslines in the back yard.

Look it up. Florida law FORBIDS deed restrictions that restrict either one. It is against the law for the Villages to punish anyone who chooses to have a clothesline in their back yard, or a satellite dish on their roof.

[askcarl]

If the neighbors don't have an issue, no foul. New neighbor moves in and don't likey, file a complaint. You'll know a major violation. Be a good Duck and let the small stuff run off your back.

It's called "getting along" with everyone in the group. Community.

[eyc234]

How about we put out a call for all of the magical, double top secret, invisible and stealth golf cart equipped "trolls" to come in for job interviews to become official licensed paid trolls. They can then come out from the shadows, get tablets instead of clipboards, not be ostracized and perform the job that they seem to be better at than anyone else.

[Number 10 GI]

Originally Posted by Chitown

I’m picturing both sides of this issue. The problem as I see it is that we shouldn’t have to be in this situation. You would think The Villages would hire 20-25 people who’s job it is to drive each Village, take pictures, and report at the end of their shift any violations. Otherwise why have anyone sign the deed restriction paper when they buy if your not going to patrol your property with your own inspectors for violations. What’s happening here is they are doing it the cheep way. Rely on us to spy and tell on each other. This should not have to be.

The Villages already has someone driving in each village, the community watch patrol. Noting violations could easily be one of their tasks.

[Number 10 GI]

Originally Posted by kendi

May not be the cross that irritates them, but only the fact that rules were broken.

I see rules broken all the time in TV but I don't get my underwear all in a wad worrying about it. I have more than enough worries about things that really matter so I ignore the trivial ones.

[Challenger]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Then you haven't read the laws or compared them to the deed restrictions. I've pointed out two previously, so have a couple of other people, on several different occasions.

One being the antennae/satellite dish issue. The other being clotheslines in the back yard.

Look it up. Florida law FORBIDS deed restrictions that restrict either one. It is against the law for the Villages to punish anyone who chooses to have a clothesline in their back yard, or a satellite dish on their roof.

Both of those exceptions were , I believe, imposed by the Florida legislature after the deed restrictions were recorded. So your examples are inappropriately described. Show me a case where the deed restrictions in the Villages were not upheld by the courts other than those that were preempted by subsequent laws.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Velvet

The trouble makers are the people who are committing the violations, and when they can’t get away with it they start screaming, even calling on religion etc. and name calling like the way criminals do when they are caught. I find it difficult to have a great deal of sympathy.

White crosses very small part of deed restrictions problems. The system don’t have to be so trolly. Only problem I have with deed restrictions are resales, there no way new buyer knows whether the property they are buying IAW all deed restrictions. Some got hit for major stuff that was done years ago. Not some lawn ornaments, but something that cost thousands. They shouldn’t be responsible when it should of been fixed before they brought. As much as closing costs cost seller this should be mandatory requirement in deed restrictions community before house offered for sale.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

White crosses very small part of deed restrictions problems. The system don’t have to be so trolly. Only problem I have with deed restrictions are resales, there no way new buyer knows whether the property they are buying IAW all deed restrictions. Some got hit for major stuff that was done years ago. Not some lawn ornaments, but something that cost thousands. They shouldn’t be responsible when it should of been fixed before they brought. As much as closing costs cost seller this should be mandatory requirement in deed restrictions community before house offered for sale.

I agree in part. But when I bought I had 2 different home inspectors check the resale property for everything. They have been working for The Villagers for decades and must know the deed restrictions so when they wrote and said the home was in compliance they would have been in trouble if it hadn’t been. It is also simple to add a clause to the sales agreement that the home is bought with all deed restrictions adhered to. So if something was out of compliance the seller would have to fix it first. As some buyers maybe from different states or countries they might miss something themselves.

[Arlington123]

Many who favor ending anonymous reporting have violations to hide. I suspect they’ve been turned in for violations before. Ending anonymous reporting will force your neighbors or others to report you. It will get very ugly very fast if you know who reported you. I know this from experience. It will pitt neighbors vs neighbors...sides will be taken and the friendliest hometown will be no more. The outcome will be less reporting overall, but is it worth it? Isn’t the right thing to do is just follow the restrictions, like we all legally agreed to? Why is this so hard?

I don’t believe there are trolls out there reporting violations, I suspect it’s your neighbors reporting you and I think you believe that to. Even if there is a troll outside your neighborhood making theses complaints, we all live in the villages and they also have a stake in maintaining our beautiful community. Should CDD 5 be our first village slum, I mean every big city has one...why not us! Really?

Where will your neighbors and others draw the line on violations before they report you, cars jacked up in your driveway, RVs and cars parked in the street for months on end, adding lean-tos or who knows what other things people can come up with.

Many of you are referring to small things like statues and yard decorations. What harm are they you ask. What if someone has 50 yard decorations in their yard, when is it too much? FYI, these small items make excellent projectiles in a hurricane or tornado and can cause massive damage and hurt folks, I’ve seen it happen here in the Villages.

If we don’t like a particular restriction then we have an avenue to get it changed through the CDD boards working with Community Standards. Why throw the baby out with the bath water?

When I first moved here, community watch was the watch dog who reported violations. Our CDD government system abdicated their responsibility by making it a residents responsibility. Who gave them the right to do this? Do the CDD boards work for you or is it the other way around. Our system of governance should work for the benefit of residents, not the other way around. All CDD boards in the Villages should demand that Community standards take back the responsibility of finding and correcting violations.

The bad news is if you have violations you will eventually be caught regardless of the method of reporting. Follow the restrictions or try to get it changed through your CDD board. It’s the right thing to do.