[Garywt]

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]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

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]

Originally Posted by charlieo1126@gmail.com

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]

Originally Posted by NavyVet

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.