AliciaE (Georgia)
Posts: 4
Posts: 4
Posted:
I bought my house in 2010 (new construction). At that time, I got approvial from the builder/HOA to erect a fence in my backyard. I was not required to complete a formal architectural review application. I simply submitted a photograph of the proposed fence and a drawing of where it would be located on the property. I am in possession of the email "approval" from the buiilder/HOA. At the end of 2010, the original builder lost the remaining lots to the bank in foreclosure, and the bank owned the lots until late 2012 when a new (subpar) builder bought all the lots and has begun building houses. Today I received a letter in the mail form the new HOA advising me that I am not in compliance with the covenants becuase I have not submitted an architectural review application for the fence located on my property. Is this normal? Why would I need to submit an application to erect a fence that has been standing since January 2010? Why are they just bringing this up now when they been building since the end of 2012? I feel like this is retaliatory and a form of harassment because I (along with my neighbors) put up some resistance to this builder at first because they are building very cheap homes in a neighborhood that originally consisted of near custom homes, and technically they are in violation of the original covenants covering the land. The new builder is the majority landowner now, though, so we don't have the power to enforce the covenants. How should I respond to this letter from the HOA? Does this sound like harassment?