ChristineC1 (Florida)
Posts: 13
Posts: 13
Posted:
We have a HOA in my subdivision of single family homes (it is not mandatory to pay dues to the HOA however). The dues, should you pay them, are $50 per year per house to maintain the common areas (entrances) and cul-de-sacs.
Our house is in the outer ring of the sub and our backyard backs up to a busy 25 mile per hour road that is the main road in and out of several subdivisions.
At the back of our yard, before the sidewalk on the busy road, is a split rail fence that was installed in all the yards backing the road when the houses were built 20 years ago.
The fence is 20 years old and looks like crap. It is splitting and is a splinter hazard for anyone to touch (like my children).
About 8 years ago, the HOA proposed replacing the fence and assessing houses that back the road some $600 and houses that do not have the fence on their property $50. Of course, the homes with the fence in the yard said no way! I also said no way -- if I am paying for a fence I am going to get one that I like and one that affords me some privacy, not another stupid split rail fence. The proposal went no where and they continue to use HOA money to "repair" the fence but have no money to replace it. As a matter of fact, in their yearly plea for the $50, they mention using the money to continue the fence repair.
I am truly wondering why I have to live with this crappy fence on my lot. If they have ownership of it, doesn't that mean that they should have been making provisions for it future replacement? I contacted the HOA president a few years ago and he suggested I plant trees such as arborvitae in front of the fence as a natural barrier. My question to him was why can't I replace it with a privacy fence -- he said that I am not allowed because it wouldn't match and suggested if I could get all the neighbors to agree on a fence we could do it. Well, that will never happen. Many homes have so much landscape in front of the fence they would never pay to replace it.
BTW, in an effort to make the fence look better, an old man down the street stained it on his property. He got a good tongue lashing for it (better that it all look the same even if it looks like crap I guess). At least 3 years have gone by and it does look terrible.
I do not have a copy of the by-laws (I know I should) but I wonder what anyone thinks of this. Should I just plant my arborvitaes and forget it???
Our house is in the outer ring of the sub and our backyard backs up to a busy 25 mile per hour road that is the main road in and out of several subdivisions.
At the back of our yard, before the sidewalk on the busy road, is a split rail fence that was installed in all the yards backing the road when the houses were built 20 years ago.
The fence is 20 years old and looks like crap. It is splitting and is a splinter hazard for anyone to touch (like my children).
About 8 years ago, the HOA proposed replacing the fence and assessing houses that back the road some $600 and houses that do not have the fence on their property $50. Of course, the homes with the fence in the yard said no way! I also said no way -- if I am paying for a fence I am going to get one that I like and one that affords me some privacy, not another stupid split rail fence. The proposal went no where and they continue to use HOA money to "repair" the fence but have no money to replace it. As a matter of fact, in their yearly plea for the $50, they mention using the money to continue the fence repair.
I am truly wondering why I have to live with this crappy fence on my lot. If they have ownership of it, doesn't that mean that they should have been making provisions for it future replacement? I contacted the HOA president a few years ago and he suggested I plant trees such as arborvitae in front of the fence as a natural barrier. My question to him was why can't I replace it with a privacy fence -- he said that I am not allowed because it wouldn't match and suggested if I could get all the neighbors to agree on a fence we could do it. Well, that will never happen. Many homes have so much landscape in front of the fence they would never pay to replace it.
BTW, in an effort to make the fence look better, an old man down the street stained it on his property. He got a good tongue lashing for it (better that it all look the same even if it looks like crap I guess). At least 3 years have gone by and it does look terrible.
I do not have a copy of the by-laws (I know I should) but I wonder what anyone thinks of this. Should I just plant my arborvitaes and forget it???