MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
Today was the day! Finally got the fence contractor to put up the posts! Plus the HOA officially signed off and approved. Perfect timing as I was going ahead with the build regardless. My fence did not fall into any violation areas even if I pulled the old "Ask forgiveness" trick.
What I found interesting in the "official" approval letter it states I have 6 months from approval to build the fence. Which was a BIG change from before. Went rounds with the PM. Told me even if I had approval (via email response) that because it was not "Physically" up had to get permissions from them to ATTACH. I refused. Plus NOT attaching. My fence is of a different design and falls in different places on my house.
1 neighbor installed the fence without telling me. The other told me but lied on the timeline. It showed up the next day. BOTH NO HOA approval. I know for a 100% FACT. The fences are also not shadow boxed nor stained as recommended. They do have to be stained regardless of design have since found out.
The PM when I asked to confirm if they had permissions was "It was none of my business and I don't give permission". Note it is my business and wasn't giving permission. I had requested and submitted my fence plan prior to them building and was approved. My question was that I had understood fences had to be "shadow box". My approved fence was not going to match.
Was advised here what would I do when I was President? I used that logic to my advantage thank you. When I had to re-apply to install my fence I simply filled out the form this way... I am just installing the FRONT and the BACK of my fence. What my other neighbors did to the sides is "none of my business". Hence I am NOT asking for their permission for me to attach. Those fences do not exist IF they are not approved by the HOA. I am not attaching to an unapproved fence. Plus whether or not I have a physical fence erected is irrelevant if I have permission to install. As soon as I got permission that should have counted as me having a fence. That means my neighbors would have to request MY permission to attach to MY fence.
I noticed the form of approval seemed to reflect that change. It granted me 6 months to erect the fence. Which to me means regardless if it is physically standing I have 6 months to make that happen. The HOA has to recognize that and approve other fences accordingly.
It should be noted BOTH fences are done wrong. 1 side the door lines up with my hose bib for the backyard. So I can't attach. The other one is 3 feet off in the back. Plus their door post falls almost in the middle of my bathroom window. It would have been impossible for me to have attached anyways. 3 feet off the back and several inches on both sides! Plus my fence won't match. Now I have to live with a mismatch and mis aligned fence... This is why HOA's "standards" are important to follow. I am now going to look odd even though I am the one following the rules...
What I found interesting in the "official" approval letter it states I have 6 months from approval to build the fence. Which was a BIG change from before. Went rounds with the PM. Told me even if I had approval (via email response) that because it was not "Physically" up had to get permissions from them to ATTACH. I refused. Plus NOT attaching. My fence is of a different design and falls in different places on my house.
1 neighbor installed the fence without telling me. The other told me but lied on the timeline. It showed up the next day. BOTH NO HOA approval. I know for a 100% FACT. The fences are also not shadow boxed nor stained as recommended. They do have to be stained regardless of design have since found out.
The PM when I asked to confirm if they had permissions was "It was none of my business and I don't give permission". Note it is my business and wasn't giving permission. I had requested and submitted my fence plan prior to them building and was approved. My question was that I had understood fences had to be "shadow box". My approved fence was not going to match.
Was advised here what would I do when I was President? I used that logic to my advantage thank you. When I had to re-apply to install my fence I simply filled out the form this way... I am just installing the FRONT and the BACK of my fence. What my other neighbors did to the sides is "none of my business". Hence I am NOT asking for their permission for me to attach. Those fences do not exist IF they are not approved by the HOA. I am not attaching to an unapproved fence. Plus whether or not I have a physical fence erected is irrelevant if I have permission to install. As soon as I got permission that should have counted as me having a fence. That means my neighbors would have to request MY permission to attach to MY fence.
I noticed the form of approval seemed to reflect that change. It granted me 6 months to erect the fence. Which to me means regardless if it is physically standing I have 6 months to make that happen. The HOA has to recognize that and approve other fences accordingly.
It should be noted BOTH fences are done wrong. 1 side the door lines up with my hose bib for the backyard. So I can't attach. The other one is 3 feet off in the back. Plus their door post falls almost in the middle of my bathroom window. It would have been impossible for me to have attached anyways. 3 feet off the back and several inches on both sides! Plus my fence won't match. Now I have to live with a mismatch and mis aligned fence... This is why HOA's "standards" are important to follow. I am now going to look odd even though I am the one following the rules...
Former HOA President