Talk of The Villages Florida
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Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)
-   The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)
-   -   Neighbor Thinks Landscaping Is “Shared” (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/neighbor-thinks-landscaping-shared-314125/)

airstreamingypsy 12-19-2020 10:33 AM
A realtor told the woman, who benefits from my large live oak tree, that I am responsible to pay to cut limbs off the she doesn't want hanging over the fence on to her yard. When she asked me to pay to cut the limbs, I was stunned. I asked her why would I do that? She told me her realtor said the tree was my responsibility. I told her she could cut any limbs that hang over her fence, but the cost was on her. She was very upset with me. It seems realtor do lie.

mikeritz53 12-19-2020 10:35 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by HRDave (Post 1874970)
Hey folks. We need some advice on a neighbor issue in Chitty Chatty. We purchased a corner lot Patio Villa in September and came down early in October to get it set up. Barb & I came home for the holidays & we let our daughter & grandkids come down to our Patio Villa for Christmas as we can’t celebrate together & Meagan is going to take the kids to Sarasota next week to their Dad.
Well our new next door neighbor who’s really sweet, came over to our Villa today & told the kids that she hoped we wouldn’t be mad but she had landscaping done in the “SHARED” flower bed between our houses. She had the landscaper install rock & edging in our original landscaping along the house, garage and driveway by the garage door.
We are currently talking to an established landscaper about doing a large job for us & we have plans for that side of the house and will submit plans to the ARC for approval prior to work commencing. I looked at the Deed restrictions & the only mention of mutual use of the area between our homes is to ensure access for maintenance reasons. I’m not real sure how to proceed without opening a can of worms for others who may have had landscaping done without ARC approval.
Any ideas besides reporting it?
We’ll be back the 27th & planning to talk to our neighbor to see if she understands & that we plan to do something nice on her view of that side of our house. I hope she amenable to it. I just don’t want her to think that this area is shared.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks!!
I manage a number of Rental and Snowbird homes. It is my understanding that the area on that side of the house is the neighbors responsibility.

photo1902 12-19-2020 10:44 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by airstreamingypsy (Post 1875515)
A realtor told the woman, who benefits from my large live oak tree, that I am responsible to pay to cut limbs off the she doesn't want hanging over the fence on to her yard. When she asked me to pay to cut the limbs, I was stunned. I asked her why would I do that? She told me her realtor said the tree was my responsibility. I told her she could cut any limbs that hang over her fence, but the cost was on her. She was very upset with me. It seems realtor do lie.
I think “benefits” is a matter of opinion. If you mean gutter cleaning, and the associated mess oaks produce, then maybe you’re right.

rmd2 12-19-2020 11:03 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1875304)
There is no reason to think that. I have listened to a lot of stuff on this forum over the years and only people who are anti-developer say things like that. The Villages Sales staff do NOT have to enlarge or exaggerate or fib in any way to get sales. People are lined up to move here. Why would you lie if the truth would serve you?
The sales person lied to me about my property. Before I bought my house I asked about water flow next to the house because the house was at the bottom of a hill. She told me it was no problem. It was a problem. After I moved in when it rained the water was like a fast moving stream right along the foundation of the house. The water also came into my lanai. I had to pay $650 to get my property re-graded to make sure the water flow would be away the house.

OrangeBlossomBaby 12-19-2020 11:16 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by rmd2 (Post 1875530)
The sales person lied to me about my property. Before I bought my house I asked about water flow next to the house because the house was at the bottom of a hill. She told me it was no problem. It was a problem. After I moved in when it rained the water was like a fast moving stream right along the foundation of the house. The water also came into my lanai. I had to pay $650 to get my property re-graded to make sure the water flow would be away the house.
There is a difference between lying, and being wrong. Your sales person probably told you that there was no report of any problems with drainage at your property, because nothing had been reported. The sales reps aren't required to tell you about things they don't actually KNOW about. They only have to disclose the things they DO know about.
If they don't know of problems, then they aren't lying when they tell you there is no evidence of problems. Because if there was evidence, it should have been reported, or repaired already. That is on the previous homeowner, not on the sales person.

vintageogauge 12-19-2020 11:39 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by richs631 (Post 1875388)
Note to self: Don’t buy a patio villa������
For those that have a limited budget there is no other way to go. These units, especially the newer models, have a lot to offer. You may have to give up use of a small strip of yard that you really don't even see but in return you gain an equal small strip of yard from your other neighbor that you do get to landscape and enjoy (except for the corner lots). it all balances out. There are problems with cottages and premiers also, a lot of these landscapers are here today and gone tomorrow and really don't get the proper approvals.

Velvet 12-19-2020 12:09 PM
I think I misunderstood the problem, I was under the impression that the access area was divided. If I am reading these posts correctly it sounds like one house owner owns the strip, and the OTHER house owner maintains it. To me that is ridiculous. No one comes on my property without my permission, landscapers etc, I call it trespassing.

kendi 12-19-2020 12:11 PM
We are on a corner lot and there is no shared space. The boundaries are clearly described in the documents you were given when purchasing the home.

vintageogauge 12-19-2020 12:32 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 1875552)
I think I misunderstood the problem, I was under the impression that the access area was divided. If I am reading these posts correctly it sounds like one house owner owns the strip, and the OTHER house owner maintains it. To me that is ridiculous. No one comes on my property without my permission, landscapers etc, I call it trespassing.
I would call it an legal easement.

Velvet 12-19-2020 12:40 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by vintageogauge (Post 1875566)
I would call it an legal easement.
The thing is I would read the deed before buying, although my (MSL) agent didn’t give me the deed before closing I researched it. I don’t agree to legal easement other than for utilities. Just because someone puts in a clause doesn’t mean it’s ok with me. I don’t buy stuff I don’t agree to in the first place.

retiredguy123 12-19-2020 12:41 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 1875552)
I think I misunderstood the problem, I was under the impression that the access area was divided. If I am reading these posts correctly it sounds like one house owner owns the strip, and the OTHER house owner maintains it. To me that is ridiculous. No one comes on my property without my permission, landscapers etc, I call it trespassing.
It's not tresspassing. It's an easement clearly spelled out in the deed restriction document. In fact, with the typical villa side yard easement, you would need permission to enter your neighbor's gated back yard to access your own property.

Topspinmo 12-19-2020 12:49 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by richs631 (Post 1875388)
Note to self: Don’t buy a patio villa������

Or CYV’s, but at least you’re surrounding by walls in CYVs when for most part makes somewhat good neighbors? :)

Velvet 12-19-2020 12:58 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 1875575)
It's not tresspassing. It's an easement clearly spelled out in the deed restriction document. In fact, with the typical villa side yard easement, you would need permission to enter your neighbor's gated back yard to access your own property.
That doesn’t work for me. Sorry. As I said just because someone comes up with a ridiculous idea doesn’t mean it’ll wash with me. You don’t know who your neighbor might be I am not looking for their ok to get to my place. I had no idea that properties are actually built like this.

HRDave 12-19-2020 01:00 PM
Thanks Melody. We’re going to be back right after Christmas so I’d like to talk to her. I really don’t want any hard feelings. Ya know?

retiredguy123 12-19-2020 01:08 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 1875585)
That doesn’t work for me. Sorry. As I said just because someone comes up with a ridiculous idea doesn’t mean it’ll wash with me. You don’t know who your neighbor might be I am not looking for their ok to get to my place. I had no idea that properties are actually built like this.
That's the way it is with the coutyard villas. There are hundreds of them in The Villages and a lot of people like them because they have a private, fenced in back yard.

HRDave 12-19-2020 01:09 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rwirish (Post 1875348)
Why not talk to your neighbor?
We would if we were down there. We’ll be back right after Christmas.

Velvet 12-19-2020 01:10 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 1875593)
That's the way it is with the coutyard villas. There are hundreds of them in The Villages and a lot of people like them because they have a private, fenced in back yard.
Well, if it works for them.... some people live in communes, I never did that either.

HRDave 12-19-2020 01:13 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Melody40 (Post 1875481)
Call Community Standards 352 751-3912 i’ll come out and check it out for you.
Thanks Melody. We’re going to be back right after Christmas so I’d like to talk to her. I really don’t want any hard feelings. Ya know?

HappyRetired 12-19-2020 03:05 PM
This is why landscaping needs ARC approval. One reason that no matter owner/maintainer, there has to be access for emergency personnel so landscaping/hardscaping is limited. New residents don't know the rules and think they can do whatever seems "nice"; former residents find out later that plantings are too close to property lines or utility boxes.

Bilyclub 12-19-2020 03:44 PM
I can see the problems with the CYV's due to the angled driveways, but PV's have pretty straight property lines. What is yours should be yours just like anywhere else.

vintageogauge 12-19-2020 06:11 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bilyclub (Post 1875630)
I can see the problems with the CYV's due to the angled driveways, but PV's have pretty straight property lines. What is yours should be yours just like anywhere else.
It is yours and if you think about it, it is better than having a neighbors' 2 feet of lawn/bed area that is in front of your patio that he is not maintaining properly and it's full of weeds and bugs. This way you get to maintain the 2 feet that you are looking at every time you sit on your patio and your other neighbor maintains your 2 feet that is in front of his patio. This was pretty well thought out by the developer and I believe it solves more problems than it creates.

NavyVet 12-19-2020 06:22 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 1875593)
That's the way it is with the courtyard villas. There are hundreds of them in The Villages and a lot of people like them because they have a private, fenced in back yard.
Huh. Interesting. It seems this is even weirder than 'zero-lot-line' homes.
I'm curious. Does that mean that the neighbor whose side wall faces your yard can come in your gate anytime willy nilly to access their house wall? Are you allowed to lock the gate to your yard? To me, this would be the opposite of private, fenced yard. As much as I would like a fenced yard, this alone would deter me from buying a CYV. I would be freaked out if I was out in my yard with my dog and someone comes through my gate and is suddenly IN my yard. What if someone opens a gate and lets a dog get out of their supposedly "safe" secured yard? I'm sure that has happened somewhere. Horrifying thought. Maybe privacy is not important to some people. Sounds like fenced courtyards are just an ILLUSION of privacy, kind of like how TV gates are just an illusion of gated community. I am now mentally eliminating villas as a future downsizing option.

tvbound 12-19-2020 06:33 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by NavyVet (Post 1875658)
Huh. Interesting. It seems this is even weirder than 'zero-lot-line' homes.
I'm curious. Does that mean that the neighbor whose side wall faces your yard can come in your gate anytime willy nilly to access their house wall? Are you allowed to lock the gate to your yard? To me, this would be the opposite of private, fenced yard. As much as I would like a fenced yard, this alone would deter me from buying a CYV. I would be freaked out if I was out in my yard with my dog and someone comes through my gate and is suddenly IN my yard. What if someone opens a gate and lets a dog get out of their supposedly "safe" secured yard? I'm sure that has happened somewhere. Horrifying thought. Maybe privacy is not important to some people. Sounds like fenced courtyards are just an ILLUSION of privacy, kind of like how TV gates are just an illusion of gated community. I am now mentally eliminating villas as a future downsizing option.
Along with the small garage and awkward driveway, those are the main reasons we've ruled out buying a CYV also. Based on their apparent popularity though, not everyone feels the same way. It just proves the old adage - "to each their own."

coffeebean 12-19-2020 06:41 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 1875552)
I think I misunderstood the problem, I was under the impression that the access area was divided. If I am reading these posts correctly it sounds like one house owner owns the strip, and the OTHER house owner maintains it. To me that is ridiculous. No one comes on my property without my permission, landscapers etc, I call it trespassing.
That is what I'm understanding too. We owned a patio villa when we were seasonal residents. Our villa was at the end of the street which ended with a CYV wall. The villa next door to us had the side patio on the opposite side of the blank side of our villa. We owned the property on both sides of our home and we also maintained the landscape on both sides of our home. Our side patio was on the side of the CYV wall and our blank side faced the garage side of the villa next door to us. I understand this set up is very rare in the patio villa neighborhoods but I did not have to worry about anyone else walking on our property or maintaining landscape that was on our property. The location of that patio villa was the reason we purchased it.

Topspinmo 12-19-2020 06:48 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by NavyVet (Post 1875658)
Huh. Interesting. It seems this is even weirder than 'zero-lot-line' homes.
I'm curious. Does that mean that the neighbor whose side wall faces your yard can come in your gate anytime willy nilly to access their house wall? Are you allowed to lock the gate to your yard? To me, this would be the opposite of private, fenced yard. As much as I would like a fenced yard, this alone would deter me from buying a CYV. I would be freaked out if I was out in my yard with my dog and someone comes through my gate and is suddenly IN my yard. What if someone opens a gate and lets a dog get out of their supposedly "safe" secured yard? I'm sure that has happened somewhere. Horrifying thought. Maybe privacy is not important to some people. Sounds like fenced courtyards are just an ILLUSION of privacy, kind of like how TV gates are just an illusion of gated community. I am now mentally eliminating villas as a future downsizing option.
You can request to enter their gate to inspect or do maintenance on side of you’re house. They can’t say no. But, you just can’t wander in anytime you want. You ask. If they say no you report and wait for the order.

Bilyclub 12-19-2020 07:25 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by vintageogauge (Post 1875657)
It is yours and if you think about it, it is better than having a neighbors' 2 feet of lawn/bed area that is in front of your patio that he is not maintaining properly and it's full of weeds and bugs. This way you get to maintain the 2 feet that you are looking at every time you sit on your patio and your other neighbor maintains your 2 feet that is in front of his patio. This was pretty well thought out by the developer and I believe it solves more problems than it creates.

So the maintenance of one side of your property is dependent on the actions of your neighbor. It's my understanding that a lot of these PV's have absentee owners who rent them out. I for one would not want a lot of vegetation growing up by my walls and the the one in the OP's pic has a bush in front of the electric meter which is a SECO easement violation. Apparently they didn't tell the OP about this before they bought it. Glad I bought a regular house.

Marathon Man 12-20-2020 07:37 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by dhdallas (Post 1875379)
Shared access is NOT shared ownership. I would be mad as h*ll and make them remove the landscaping.
The neighbor did nothing wrong. Those that don't live in villas should consider the fact that they don't understand enough to make accurate comments.

Marathon Man 12-20-2020 07:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 1875552)
I think I misunderstood the problem, I was under the impression that the access area was divided. If I am reading these posts correctly it sounds like one house owner owns the strip, and the OTHER house owner maintains it. To me that is ridiculous. No one comes on my property without my permission, landscapers etc, I call it trespassing.
Again, villa living is not the same as living in regular single family homes. Those that don't live in villas don't understand, and that's ok. Those of us who do live in villas understand how property resposibility and "right of use" works. It makes villa living work for us. Everyone take a breath and relax.

vintageogauge 12-20-2020 08:43 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bilyclub (Post 1875677)
So the maintenance of one side of your property is dependent on the actions of your neighbor. It's my understanding that a lot of these PV's have absentee owners who rent them out. I for one would not want a lot of vegetation growing up by my walls and the the one in the OP's pic has a bush in front of the electric meter which is a SECO easement violation. Apparently they didn't tell the OP about this before they bought it. Glad I bought a regular house.
It would be much worse for you as an owner if the easement in front of your patio was to be maintained by an out of state owner, you would have to look at it every day. This way you maintain what you see and your other neighbor maintains what you don't see. Patio Villas are not for everyone but neither are designers or cottage homes that have larger yards to maintain. To each his own.

retiredguy123 12-20-2020 08:58 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by vintageogauge (Post 1875768)
It would be much worse for you as an owner if the easement in front of your patio was to be maintained by an out of state owner, you would have to look at it every day. This way you maintain what you see and your other neighbor maintains what you don't see. Patio Villas are not for everyone but neither are designers or cottage homes that have larger yards to maintain. To each his own.
Good point. In a courtyard villa, when you walk out of your front door, you can see your neighbor's house. And, with the easement, you have control of the landscaping that extends from your house to the neighbor's house outside of the neighbor's gate. So, the neighbor cannot put something ugly or objectionable in that area which is within 10 feet of your front door.

Dgizzi 12-20-2020 10:22 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by HRDave (Post 1874970)
Hey folks. We need some advice on a neighbor issue in Chitty Chatty. We purchased a corner lot Patio Villa in September and came down early in October to get it set up. Barb & I came home for the holidays & we let our daughter & grandkids come down to our Patio Villa for Christmas as we can’t celebrate together & Meagan is going to take the kids to Sarasota next week to their Dad.
Well our new next door neighbor who’s really sweet, came over to our Villa today & told the kids that she hoped we wouldn’t be mad but she had landscaping done in the “SHARED” flower bed between our houses. She had the landscaper install rock & edging in our original landscaping along the house, garage and driveway by the garage door.
We are currently talking to an established landscaper about doing a large job for us & we have plans for that side of the house and will submit plans to the ARC for approval prior to work commencing. I looked at the Deed restrictions & the only mention of mutual use of the area between our homes is to ensure access for maintenance reasons. I’m not real sure how to proceed without opening a can of worms for others who may have had landscaping done without ARC approval.
Any ideas besides reporting it?
We’ll be back the 27th & planning to talk to our neighbor to see if she understands & that we plan to do something nice on her view of that side of our house. I hope she amenable to it. I just don’t want her to think that this area is shared.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks!!
At least it looks nice. It could have been bad. Just do what you want and compromise.

John41 12-20-2020 11:04 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marathon Man (Post 1875749)
Again, villa living is not the same as living in regular single family homes. Those that don't live in villas don't understand, and that's ok. Those of us who do live in villas understand how property resposibility and "right of use" works. It makes villa living work for us. Everyone take a breath and relax.
I agree. We understand our obligations which are on the documents that come with the house. One problem could be a resale where the previous owner doesn't give the new owner all the documents on a FSBO sake.

Actually homes have the same issue as shared ownership on the sides and rear.

pauld315 12-20-2020 08:49 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by HRDave (Post 1875118)
Thanks for the responses folks. I appreciate the help. I have read the deed very carefully and the only mention of the area between the houses is for maintaining the adjacent structure & yard maintenance, which I would interpret as mowing, edging, etc. No mention of enhancements or landscaping. I’m going to give our Villages Realtor a call & get their opinion before I talk with ARC. We’re not mad at our neighbor, we just don’t want to end up in a dispute when we do our landscaping project.
Thanks again!
You won't open a can of worms for others with ARC They don't care about other offenders unless somebody complains

Bilyclub 12-21-2020 09:14 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by John41 (Post 1875808)
I agree. We understand our obligations which are on the documents that come with the house. One problem could be a resale where the previous owner doesn't give the new owner all the documents on a FSBO sake.

Actually homes have the same issue as shared ownership on the sides and rear.
Okay, I'll bite. How do homes have the same issue as shared ownership on the sides and rear?

cb1972 12-21-2020 10:33 AM
Word of caution for owners of PVs , check the vegetation on your neighbors side periodically . Shouldn't contact your house. Once when cleaning out my dryer vent found a two foot long shoot from a hedge growing into the vent. It was dry as a bone but still growing . Definite fire hazard . Normally clean the vent twice a year.

Garywt 12-26-2020 05:43 PM
We are in a Villa but with a gate and a fence. We own half and the neighbor owns half but we have an easement and are responsible for everything between the houses. The neighbor can only come through the gate to maintain that side of their house.

charlieo1126@gmail.com 12-28-2020 09:49 AM
Well said, I’ve owned 2 CYV there
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marathon Man (Post 1875749)
Again, villa living is not the same as living in regular single family homes. Those that don't live in villas don't understand, and that's ok. Those of us who do live in villas understand how property resposibility and "right of use" works. It makes villa living work for us. Everyone take a breath and relax.
is so much hot air being blown over such a simple problem and my first place here was a patio villa , it took no more then a minute for sales person to explain the rules , really just common sense

graciegirl 12-28-2020 10:40 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlieo1126@gmail.com (Post 1878640)
is so much hot air being blown over such a simple problem and my first place here was a patio villa , it took no more then a minute for sales person to explain the rules , really just common sense
Well said. I think power and possession enter into this. I am always unpleasantly surprised when people "worry" about someone entering their yard. People and kids ran through our yards all of the time growing up and watching our own family growing up in Ohio. We didn't lock doors and didn't expect bad things from nearby home owners.

I know times have changed, but the truth is that most people who live here, being the age they are and the place they choose to live are decent and well meaning.

I think this is a tempest in a teapot.

eweissenbach 12-28-2020 11:15 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by NavyVet (Post 1875658)
Huh. Interesting. It seems this is even weirder than 'zero-lot-line' homes.
I'm curious. Does that mean that the neighbor whose side wall faces your yard can come in your gate anytime willy nilly to access their house wall? Are you allowed to lock the gate to your yard? To me, this would be the opposite of private, fenced yard. As much as I would like a fenced yard, this alone would deter me from buying a CYV. I would be freaked out if I was out in my yard with my dog and someone comes through my gate and is suddenly IN my yard. What if someone opens a gate and lets a dog get out of their supposedly "safe" secured yard? I'm sure that has happened somewhere. Horrifying thought. Maybe privacy is not important to some people. Sounds like fenced courtyards are just an ILLUSION of privacy, kind of like how TV gates are just an illusion of gated community. I am now mentally eliminating villas as a future downsizing option.
Our Villages home is a courtyard villa and we love it. Our neighbors on either side of us are good friends and better people. The neighbor whose wall is on our side has accessed it twice, once to power wash and once to have it painted - absolutely no problem! I have been on the side of the wall facing our other neighbors property once, to sweep up some weeds I whacked that went under the gate - again, no problem. Everybody takes good care of their landscaping and everybody is happy.


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