Just had city code enforcer stop by to tell me they had an anonymous report that we consistently violate the snow clearing ordinance. He looked at my clear sidewalks and said he was confused as to what the complaint was about. Since it was anonymous he couldn’t follow up.
It had snowed Saturday and we cleared the sidewalk Sunday. Most of the neighborhood clears the snow during the storm several times but we wait until the end. I asked if the timeline was still 48 hours and the city guy said yes. We are not early birds and go out midday or after work to snow blow.
We constantly get false anonymous reports from the HOA. No one comes and talks to us about snow or lawn or landscaping. We had to replace a fence due to storm damage this summer and they stood across the street watching.
So now they involved the city in their crusade to bother us. I don’t have the energy to move houses and honestly we like our house. But this is getting ridiculous and exhausting
Join the HOA board and find out what their problem is.
This is the best advice for anyone who doesn’t like how their HOA is run. Most HOAs don’t have enough volunteers and have to wrangle people into positions.
Plus it automatically puts you on the same “team” as the board members and they’re less likely to view you negatively.
Of course, if the complaints aren’t coming from the board, then you just volunteered to listen to other people complain. Because that’s the thing: if the board wanted to cite you for HOA violations, they could. Which makes me think someone is complaining to the board, then getting frustrated when the board doesn’t take them seriously, then they make the city code enforcement complaint.
I had a neighbor in Colorado that did this to me. After the third “anonymous” complaint I went to the board meeting and put it on record that this neighbor (I named her) was harassing me and several other neighbors. I asked them to ignore her complaints unless they were willing to come out and inspect themselves, as per the CCRs. I noted several violations on her property, both HOA and city codes, and said I was not reporting, but if HOA was sending violations, they must also do the inspections. Nothing after that from the HOA. Then she started with calls to the city. I made the same comments to the city code guy and a police officer and they made notes in their records. Never another issue from the city either. She still probably reported, but the reports were merely filed somewhere. Worst neighbor ever!!!
We have one of "those" neighbors. The city inspector is not even allowed to talk to him anymore. When he calls he's automatically forwarded to the boss. We haven't had to deal with a "code violation" in years now.
Ha! - doesn;t work
Plant bamboo in their yards
Nick Offerman is the only way.
start dropping tons of anonymous complaints, let them run in circles until they realize how stupid they are.
didn't work
Summer fence gazers could be your anonymous reporters.
How the fuck do people live with HOA regulations?! My baseline would be “rage.”
I’d probably ask [EDIT per sensible correction from u/KrofftSurvivor] the HOA in writing why they are following up on anonymous and repeatedly false enforcement complaints and tell them gently that you are not accusing the HOA of anything at this point but that this is harassment, and that by accepting/allowing repeatedly falsified anonymous complaints, the HOA is making itself the instrument of that harassment.
I’d also let the town code person know about this pattern and ask that they note the falsified code complaint for their records.
I’d also ask the HOA, after the history of false anonymous complaints, to refuse to accept further purportedly anonymous complaints due to the history of false anonymous complaints about this address, let them know that the repeated false accusations are subjecting the HOA to legal claims at this point, and point out that any and all records relating to these reports must now be preserved because the HOA is now on notice of potential legal action and failing to preserve them - including the reports themselves and who took each report and when, so that they can be deposed - may comprise spoliation of evidence. Of course you should definitely contact a lawyer in your jurisdiction first and for better advice.
You can ask that of the HOA, because there's been a pattern there.
But this is apparently the first time the city has been involved, so the city has not been doing any harassing whatsoever.
too many false reports on an address then the city will just start ignoring them.
I can go you one better. I'm 58, the wife is 78. She's retired, I'm not. If it snows during the day, someone -will- complain about us not having the walk shoveled until I get home from work.
Most cities and counties these days have an online system for your property information like taxes, school district, etc. It usually also includes any complaints against your property. You could off handly remind your neighbors that if you have a high number of violations reported against your property, it brings down the value of your property AND your neighbor's properties. Buyers and real estate agents are not going to want to have a neighbor who has excessive numbers of violations. The next step naturally is to report them as well. If they complain you can be like "Yeah, me too." You're already the victim. Not much they can do about it.
Someone in my neighborhood contacted animal control about my dog getting out of my yard. Unless they straight jump the fence when they leave and come back, it's just never happened. Karens can be annoying.
My parents kept having people call that their dog was out, small enough town and they owned a business so they knew everyone. She was a Great Dane with very few Great Dane's in town. Mom and Dad would look int he backyard and see their dog standing there and tell whoever called that it wasn't their dog.
One day Dad was driving home and saw our Great Dane hauling ass across a field. He punched it, whipped into the driveway and ran through the house just to hit the back door in time to see her sailing over the 6 ft back yard fence without touching it. Yeah their dog that never got out was out all the time when they weren't home.
You need to turn this story into a children's book!
And was smart enough to get back home before his owner… too funny! 😂
The code enforcer comes around and sees a clear sidewalk. If we asks you tell him you clear it within the required 48hrs. It happens a couple of times and then they ignore the calls.
In Florida anonymous complaints like this are banned thanks to Gov Desantis. Everyone should have a right to face their accuser.
I'm sure it cuts down on a lot of lame complaints like this one too
It doesn't take much for the county to figure out who put in the report. The system logs whatever they use to make the report. Lawyers are already on the governments dime
I mean they might have an IP address I guess. But if someone really didn't want to be known a simple vpn would make it truly anonymous
If Florida you have to list your name and address on the complaint form
We had neighbors that did that also except ours everyone knew who it was. Eventually they ask for your number and just call you or close the ticket as a false report.
Also once the county gets annoyed they won't be anonymous anymore to the code enforcement.
Sue the hoa, then when they can't produce a complainer or victim, it's tossed.... unfortunately, it doesn't work like that, but it should. The complainer probably needed education in the law.....
If anything, you have a neighbor who does not like the fact that you do not take care of the snow the same way they do. Yes, the best bet would be to join the board.
Cry wolf enough times and the inspectors or cops will fibe THEM.
What's this have to do with HOA? Any neighbor in any neighborhood could file something with the city.
But you are the HOA, a percentage of it. The HOA is not a person or persons. “They involved the City….:”. Who is they?
It’s questionable if you understand the premise.
The way you explain the scenario you have done nothing wrong so go live your life. Maybe city guy was at the wrong address.
Well, you probably know exactly who is doing it. Dig into the HOA documents and see what they are violating and act accordingly.