Soliciting in the neighborhood: Any advice on how to stop it

Started by SamonaG • 16 replies • 3280 views

💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

SamonaG (Texas)
Posts: 6

Posted:

Someone placed signs throughout all of the neighborhoods in my area, totally ignoring the No Soliciting signs. The signs read "We Buy Houses - Fast Cash," and included a contact number. The signs weren't there yesterday so they did it over night or in the early hours of the morning. I'm concerned that if it's not addressed, our neighborhood will soon look like the corners of many major intersections cluttered with various signs. I called the phone number, but of course they have someone screening calls. So, what options do we have? By the way, these are rather large signs (similar in size to those used by home builders) that were stuck in the ground with metal spikes, and placed at every stop sign.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Take the signs out and throw them away.

Now, are the streets/sidewalks private or public?

If they are public, your rules would not apply to those who are not members. However, there is nothing that prevents you from removing the signs and throwing them out.

SamonaG (Texas)
Posts: 6

Posted:

The signs have been pulled. It's not a gated community so the streets/sidewalks are public.

I'm a little confused by your statement "If they are public, your rules would not apply to those who are not members." Are you implying that the No Soliciting rules only apply to the homeowners who live in the subdivision?

PitA
Posts: 311

Posted:

Yes

The HOA does NOT govern the general public on a public street.
The HOA membership is governed via its' contractual relationship among ITSELF only.

If the MUNICIPALITY in which the HOA is located has NO SOLICITATION rules, then THEY would enforce same.

If, however, the HOA owns the roads (private roads) then the HOA's rules would apply to EVERYONE including the TRESPASSERS who put up the signs. If they entered to break a posted rule (NO SOLICITING) they are trespassing even if a member 'let them in'.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Our neighborhood is posted No Soliciting. It does not stop them. The only thing to do is call the police.

One afternoon, knock on my door. Several "church" ladies inviting me the their church. I said we are posted No Soliciting. One said we are not trying to sell you anything. I said yes you are and I am calling the police. I did call the police. Not sure what happened.

LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099

Posted:

Samona,

You have no way of keeping anyone out of your neighborhood. Your recourse against someone putting up signs is limited. Unless the person putting those signs up is a member, your association cannot order them to stop, order them to remove them, or fine them. Your local government may have ordinances against the signs but it will be up to them to act. If you can identify the company who put them up, you could seek a court order to stop them. Your most effective means to remedy the problem, however, is to immediately remove the signs and toss them out.

LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JohnC46 on 05/11/2015 4:57 PM
Our neighborhood is posted No Soliciting. It does not stop them. The only thing to do is call the police.

One afternoon, knock on my door. Several "church" ladies inviting me the their church. I said we are posted No Soliciting. One said we are not trying to sell you anything. I said yes you are and I am calling the police. I did call the police. Not sure what happened.

I know what happened. Nothing, except for a few laughs down at the police department. The police are not going to interfere with their practice of religion no matter how much it annoys you.

SamonaG (Texas)
Posts: 6

Posted:

I've had a similar experience with a religious group. I didn't go as far as calling or threatening to call the cops but I did refer to the No Soliciting sign that was posted above my door bell. That's when they told me (with excitement in their voice) that those rules don't apply to their organization because they are not selling. They kindly offered to put me on their "Do Not Contact List." Imagine that, having to be placed on the "do not contact list" to keep uninvited people from knocking on your door. On another site someone posted what I thought was a hilarious suggestion of answering the door with a foil hat on your head and spraying air freshner like it's the protective fog. Lol ~ Let me know how that works if you dare to try it.

SamonaG (Texas)
Posts: 6

Posted:

Thanks for the response.

All the while I thought the "no soliciting" sign poasted at the entrance really meant something. Little did I know...

SamonaG (Texas)
Posts: 6

Posted:

Thanks for the response.

All the while I thought the "no soliciting" sign poasted at the entrance really meant something. Little did I know...

PitA
Posts: 311

Posted:

Unless the roads are private the sign is meaningless toric ka-ka.

NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By TimB4 on 05/11/2015 4:32 PM
Take the signs out and throw them away.

Sometimes signs mysteriously disappear just as mysteriously as they appeared in the first place - even where the streets aren't HOA owned.

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Just because signs are up does not mean you can't remove them. Who they going to complain to? A HOA they do not belong to? Or since the HOA has agreed no soliciting, they have the right to remove them too.

Former HOA President

PitA
Posts: 311

Posted:

Or since the HOA has agreed no soliciting, they have the right to remove them too.

Only if they are on HOA property.

? If the signs are on a public right of way ?

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

The public can remove them too...

Former HOA President

PitA
Posts: 311

Posted:

.....aaaaah, we agree

🎯 You've read this entire discussion

Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

✓ Ask follow-up questions
✓ Share your experience
✓ Get expert advice
✓ Access 350,000 discussions

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in here