[Debfrommaine]

Originally Posted by HRDave

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!

I called community standards 751-3912.District 12, patio villa, you own that side but your neighbor is responsible for maintaining "their" side (even tho you own it) and can plant what they want with ARC approval, of course. Do give them a call to clear up any confusion.

[blueash]

Originally Posted by Debfrommaine

I called community standards 751-3912.District 12, patio villa, you own that side but your neighbor is responsible for maintaining "their" side (even tho you own it) and can plant what they want with ARC approval, of course. Do give them a call to clear up any confusion.

So if a sinkhole develops on "your" property which the neighbor is responsible to maintain, who fixes it? The person who owns it or the person who is responsible for maintenance? Whose sprinkler heads are in the area? If the neighbor is responsible for maintenance does that mean the decision on how often and how much to sprinkle is his thus the equipment is tied to his water lines? I would think so but I'm curious.

[Debfrommaine]

Originally Posted by blueash

So if a sinkhole develops on "your" property which the neighbor is responsible to maintain, who fixes it? The person who owns it or the person who is responsible for maintenance? Whose sprinkler heads are in the area? If the neighbor is responsible for maintenance does that mean the decision on how often and how much to sprinkle is his thus the equipment is tied to his water lines? I would think so but I'm curious.

Great questions, post what community standards says, very interesting.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by blueash

So if a sinkhole develops on "your" property which the neighbor is responsible to maintain, who fixes it? The person who owns it or the person who is responsible for maintenance? Whose sprinkler heads are in the area? If the neighbor is responsible for maintenance does that mean the decision on how often and how much to sprinkle is his thus the equipment is tied to his water lines? I would think so but I'm curious.

If there is an easement area that you control, the sprinklers will be connected to your water system and you decide when and how much to water that area, even though the property is owned by your neighbor.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by HRDave

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!

Landscaping IS yard maintenance. If they are responsible for yard maintenance, then they are the ones who get to decide (with ARC's approval) what goes in the yard and what doesn't go in the yard.

If you are the responsible party, then you are the ones who get to pick (with ARC's approval).

You should have had the property surveyed, or received a copy of an existing survey map, so you know EXACTLY what is yours to change and what is not yours to change (with ARC approval).


When I moved in, my neighbor pointed out some shrubs in the back yard, right on our property line. Part of the shrubs were on her side, part were on mine. She told me she planted them years ago, because that spot was damaged by the shade tree roots that grew there. The shrubs are contained in old tires that you can't see because of the shrub foliage (it's a very clever setup).

I told her I absolutely love them, it's a really nice way to show the property line at the back corner of our properties, and I thanked her for doing it and promised I'd make sure it was weeded when she was out of state for a few months every year.

But if I didn't like them, I would have been free to remove them and pretty it up however I preferred - on MY side of the property line.

[HRDave]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

Correct. As described in the OP, your neighbor has responsibility and "right of use" for the area that she landscaped, right up to the side of your house and along the driveway to the street. (shown by the red lines in the picture).

It is important to understand that patio and courtyard villas are not like regular houses. The property lines do not define what you can do.

That’s what it’s looking like folks. I talked to our Realtor & she’s pretty sure that it’s common practice for those with patios facing that wall. The only issue now is that she came all the way out past the corner of the garage. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem as we were planning on doing a raised block bed there with a weeping bottle brush. She’ll probably like that.

[teamC]

Hi,

Welcome to The Villages! I hope you and your neighbor are able to work together. Good neighbors are like trees in Florida (worth millions!):
Link to Deed Restrictions (Find your district and then your villa name or UNIT number> The unit # of your home is listed on your golf ID as UL #)
VCDD Deed Compliance - Sumter County

On their website I could only find courtyard property line images, but the terms they use are the same as patio villas.
https://www.districtgov.org/departme.../CourtYard.pdf

Hope you find this helpful!

[HRDave]

Thanks!!!

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

This is not true for courtyard villas and some other house types. The deed restrictions for many of the small houses establish easements that allow your next door neighbor to control the landscaping on part of your property. Some of these easements extend to almost up to your neighbor's exterior house wall. And, I don't think there is a rule that says you cannot place landscaping within 3 feet of your neighbor's property line for any house. You need to read the deed restriction document very carefully. I had to read mine about 7 times before I could fully comprehend what it allows and requires.

In my district in CYV,s nothing can come within foot of my house wall. That 1 foot rock landscaping beside my house is for drainage not for plants cause too close to my house wall which requires 1 foot clearance same in that area off front porch. I can’t have nothing within 1 foot of my neighbor’s house even though it technically his property, but I maintain it. There also 1 foot clearance on my driveway so I can get in and out of my vehicle. Some let there bushes/shrubs grow beyond driveways in front of there houses which is violation.

Again this depends on district and how property lines and houses are built (2 bedroom vs 3 bedroom) I have no clue or interest how Patio villa’s are set up which looks like just as screwed up as CYV’s, bottom line read restrictions for district if there any questions call ☎️.

IMO it takes lawyers mentality to understand deed restrictions due to many different rules based on village, lot number, and district.

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by HRDave

That’s what it’s looking like folks. I talked to our Realtor & she’s pretty sure that it’s common practice for those with patios facing that wall. The only issue now is that she came all the way out past the corner of the garage. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem as we were planning on doing a raised block bed there with a weeping bottle brush. She’ll probably like that.

If SECO is your electric company the bush in front of the meter is a no no. Also I would not have much faith in what a Villages sales person says.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

If SECO is your electric company the bush in front of the meter is a no no. Also I would not have much faith in what a Villages sales person says.

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?

[cypress]

I'm sure a lot of people would be horrified if they ever looked or had to go over to the neighbors side of a courtyard villa. When I visit some I can't believe the plantings, terraces, fountains, etc, against neighbors homes. I've even seen a retaining wall knee high with plantings in it.

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

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 house is sold already so that's a moot point. " I talked to our Realtor & she’s pretty sure that it’s common practice for those with patios facing that wall. " Practice is not the same as what's in the deed and survey. I'm neither pro or anti developer and will post my opinion when I want to.

[Velvet]

From what I understand their side is theirs your side is yours, line is usually down the middle. Your survey will tell you where yours ends. You are allowed on their property even if the flower bed is there, to wash your house or do maintenance etc. otherwise they can do what they want with their side and you can do what you want with your side (as long as ARC approves). These properties do not have common elements like a condominium, to be decided jointly.

[Scott O]

Originally Posted by DAIII

If this helps-- (I'm in a new patio villa, end unit also) That flower bed by the electric meter and side of your home that has no windows is the neighbors planter area. You have a right of way...if you needed to pressure wash that side but that planting area facing that neighbors screened porch is on them to keep up.

As shown the red area is the neighbors grass and planting.

We are in an end unit patio villa in the new area as well and that’s absolutely correct what you’re saying. They maintain the area to the side of your home, you have a right of way when needed to clean or spray for bugs...looks like we both have the same model home with the side birdcage!