What Should I Do?

[USNRET]

Here is the situation.  Bought a house on a lake in Ga. THis is a working class community not a fancy dancy community!  Was not given a copy of the covanants until after the purchase (my error for not requesting).Recently brought my popup down and parked it in a very inconspicous place.  A week later a person goes to my wife's place of employment and informs her he had been approached by others about the popup.  It does say in the covanants no RECREATIONAL VEHICLES OF ANY TYPE and specificly mentions popups.  We surveyed the neighborhood and found many boat trailers, jet skis, boats on trailers, atv's, flat bed trls, trailers for carrying motorcycles etc..etc.  We are the very last house so it appears to us that this is just some one getting into our business just for something to do. There is also a person with a beauty shop that is not allowed.  There is no homeowners association so any action is left up to the individual residents.  Also people ride their ATV's on the road - a violation of state law.  One of the people who is concerned is the person whos daughter has the beauty shop and he rides the ATV and has about 5 trailers in his yard.  It is my contention that all the boats, jetskis, and other trls are also recreational vehicles and should also be put up.  I am not looking for a fight. What action would you recommend. Thanks. Jim

[angelsmom10]

If there's no home owner's association, what can they do.
 
Also, I would think it would be a law that everything that you had to abide by had to be given to you prior to you signing the contract.  Shouldn't it be their fault for not disclosing that information prior.
 
Maybe I'm just being nasty, but I'd say an eye for an eye.  What's good for 1 is good for all.
 
Tell them that when all the other violations are taken care of, you'll find a place to store the PU.  I'm sure they won't be able to get everyone to comply with the rules.

[mowalker]

Oh I love this subject.

This more than likely falls into a zoning issue if there is no homeowners association.  

I can't believe someone actually went to your wifes place of employment to complain.  Talk about harrasment :compumad:

First of all find out what violation you may be commiting and then go to the courthouse to see if you can get a waiver for your PU.  Take pictures to show that it is hidden from view.  You also may have to have your immediate neighbors sign off on the waiver.

Having been in this situation, I found out the hard way. :mad:  It was just nosey neighbors with too much time on their hands.

If you can't win that way, you know how to fight back, report all the other violations I'm sure somehow somethings will change :p

E-mail me if you want more info.

There is more than one way to fight city hall and the neighborhood snottys.

Brenda

[HersheyGirl]

I am in the same situation as you, but we do have a home owners association to deal with.  I am just waiting for someone to complain about my popup, then I will complain about the boat sitting out front, the chain link fence, more that three cars per house, more that 3 pets per house, etc, etc, etc.  I would just wait it out and see what happens.  I would probably also check the zoning to see if you can have a popup on your own property.  If there is no home owners assoc, then, what can they do to you?  Oh yes, always be very, very pleasent at all times.   Sounds like some folks have way too much time on their hands.  Good luck.

[Miss-Teri]

Do they allow privacy fencing?  You could put a privacy fence all around the PU.  They might not like it, but if it's not in the paperwork, what can they do?  What a bunch of whiners - I really hate communities with idiotic laws about what you can and can't do on property that you paid for.

[jstaddwtr]

I would also suggest that you keep a type of diary by taking pictures of all of the other 'violations" that you believe exist.  The date, time, location, type of infraction, as well as license numbers so that you can be specific.  Even if a law exists, you want to be able to show that the enforcement is arbitrary and capricious and certainly selectively enforced or biased for whatever the reasons you find most convient to make your case.  Make sure to get the addresses and the times or length of period that you observe the violation.

Few places nowadays do not have covenants of some sort.  Covenants 'run with the land" and in most states it is the owners resonsibility to know what they are.  Having a covenant filed in most states is "notice" to the public.  On the other hand, just because a covenant is written does not mean it is enforcable or even constitutional.  Bottom line is, become informed; educate yourself now that you know that there is an issue and most likely there is an answer.  

Going to your place of business is clearly inappropriate and most likely intended to send you a message of intimidation.   Good luck!!!!!

[AustinBoston]

I would ignore it until I got notice in proper legal form (i.e. on paper).  From your description, there was either a "failure to disclose" by the seller (something you can sue them over), or you did not agree to any such covenant.

The worst thing they can possibly do is make you rent a spot at a storage loaction.

Approaching your wife at place of employment is very, very close to harassment.  If they did it because you would not be around, it was very, very cowardly.

I agree with what others have said, document other abuses.  Like it or not, boats and ATV's, are recreational vehicles.

Austin

[copcarguy]

HersheyGirl - "no more than 3 cars per house" ?  Man we'd be in trouble there.  :eyecrazy:

USNRET - situations like this get my blood boiling.  This is when I get into "work mode" and want to smash people.  This is also when I walk away for the other persons safety, my better half takes over, and will kill you with kindness...  I am glad she's on my side!!  Seriously, like was previously mentioned, document everything - when the time comes to go to battle, you will look more prepared, and will make them look like a doofus.

[byrdr1]

JIm, A person voicing his concern is nothing..
If I read this right you would have to have a letter in writing and it would be mailed to you certified by the board. IF no board who can write this letter, maybe the developer???
I too was in the same place you are several years back. The next door neighbor called the guy who developed this housing area about every thing I did. I built a building, it was supposed to be approved. I was supposed to draw up plans and have my lot surveyed as to where it had to be placed. I did all the drawings. Then I painted the building the color we were going to paint the house later that year and he complained that the two did match. I was about to whip his behind before he moved. Everything I did he called it in on me.. BUT I am just to much a redneck and I won in the end when he moved first. I have not heard anything since he moved. Now several of the neighbors have the metal carports/garages and I dont have a problem. We have boats in driveways, a MONSTER truck at ones house, another also has popup beside his house, another has a TT and a boat. One parks a potato-chip truck in the ditch beside his house and tracks red mud everytime it rains out onto the road. One has his lawnmowing business rig parked on the street.
So I feel good with only 3 cars in the driveway, my TT and a utility trailer also..
Be cool about it and see what happens. But i do feel I would take pictures of all the other stuff.
Remember you are the NEW guy on the block..They are testing you, they found out you are a teacher, so they are trying to get back at all teachers..
randy

[topcat7736]

Park a tank in your driveway & point the gun towards the house of anyone who complains! Or maybe a big stockade around your property, posted with signs that say "WARNING: Peekers will be shot on sight". How about tossing some of the trailers through the plate glass window of the beauty shop & just say "their illegalness aggravated me".

Busybody people get under my skin. Can't people just live & let live? Covenants, & the you can/cannot things are for the few who have no lives & think they are homesteading a new town of their own.

As others said, just ignore the b@st@rds and let them make the first legal move.

[tlhdoc]

Good luck and take the pictures and keep a diary.

[dee106]

can you put up a covered car port, so they can't see it? it will serve two purposes keep it cover so it will keepit cleaner, and they can't see it so they won't know when your home or gone!
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20721&item=4305206495&rd=1

[campingboaters]

Good luck with your situation.  Many have already given some really good advise.  This group LOVES to fight for the rights of other happy campers!  

Keep us informed!

[vjm1639]

You may want to talk to a lawyer and have them look over the covenant you were given for your community to see what is actually enforceable and what isn't.   I know where we live these covenants are strictly enforced and are quite legal.  Two big issues that I know of was one person putting up a brick retaining wall without permission...and another painted their deck white when it was supposed to be left in the "natural wood" color.  Both homeowners were informed they had violated the rules. Both homeowners ignored the letters they received, both homeowners ended up going to court...and both homeowners lost their cases........  





We have to pay for an off site storage lot for our PU but so does everyone in the area who doesn't have a garage they can close one (or boat, or ATV, or whatever...) up in...   We did know the rules BEFORE we bought our home here however!