Hsv City Code Violation: Ch 7, Article V (Huntsville: renters, HOA)

[HsvKen]

So I'm opening my mail this week, and here's a letter from City of Hsv Community Dev Div, indicating "Official Notice", and containing a laundry list of 20 'violations' pertaining to my rental house off Weatherly Rd. 90% relate to paint, but also lists felony offenses such as torn screen on front door. Apparently, the guy went all around the house with a magnifying glass and uncovered further grievous shortcomings like a window that cailking.
No argument the house could use a paint job, but it certainly doesn't present an eyesore by any means.

Tried to find details of "Chapter 7, Article V", but naturally the only link I found is bad.

My question is, what triggers such an inspection and notice? A neighbor? A city employee just cruising neighborhoods, filling a quota? I suspect a touch of retaliation as a result of a complaint to the Utility Dept a couple weeks prior, but I could be wrong. Actually, I was a little surprised they didn't enter the house to inspect refrigerator and cupboard, ensuring the renters were on a proper food diet.

Has anyone else run into this?

Any input is appreciated - -

HsvKen

[E Limestone Dude]

Hate to hear this happened to you. This is why I am very glad I moved into the county.

A good friend has a rental in Hville and received a similar note because the back yard grass was a few inches too tall.

Understand they want the city to look nice, but I'm not sure the heavy hand of the government is the answer.

[zenjenn]

When you say "rental house", are you the owner or the tenant? If you're the owner, I'd think maybe a disgruntled tenant?

If you are the tenant, just pass it on to your landlord. Not your responsibility.

[HsvKen]

Thanks, Dude - Yeah, I dunno.... Just seemed trivial to me, unless that's the Reason for Existence for this Commun Dev deal.

zenjenn - No, I own the house and have a tenant who yardscapes it and keeps it up pretty well. I've rented the house for years and years, but it's looked a heck of a lot worse with other tenants in the past, without the SS stepping in to demand renovations. That's what perplexes me.

Thanks, y'all - -

HsvKen

[Reactionary]

HsvKen - fix up the house. You act like you're the aggrieved party here, even as you admit that the house has "looked a heck of a lot worse".

Asking about how your eyesore got on the City's list is counterproductive - it could have been a neighbor, an inspector (IIRC the entire City has 2 or 3), a tenant, or maybe I drove by and called the City - doesn't really matter.

If you don't like the City Ordinance, meet with your City Councilmember or go to Council meetings and get the Ordinance changed.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by HsvKen

it certainly doesn't present an eyesore by any means.

Just for fun, could you post a photo of it, say, from the street? (You can either upload a photo as an attachment or use a service like Photobucket which doesn't use all your City Data storage space.)

[Reactionary]

Charles, ... in the eye of the beholder...

[VMH2507]

Without seeing the property in question, it is hard to say if it is overzealousness or not. As a side note when i lived in Houston area where Homeowners Assns. are notorious for excessive activity, we received a notice from said HOA that we needed to replace the roof on a rental property we owned. The roof had never leaked and had no appearance issues. When I questioned the HOA representative, she admitted that they had just sent notices to every home owner who had an original roof because they had decided "we needed to put a new roof". The homes in question were 15 years old at the time, so it could be assumed that the roofs still had a couple of years of life in them.

[HsvKen]

Reactionary - No problem at all with painting the house - it's always been satisfactorily maintained, and periodic painting has been part of the process, along with a lot of other projects.

I don't believe questioning an action by the City of Hsv is 'counterproductive' at all. What IS counterproductive is snapping to attention and responding "Yes sir, anything you say, sir"... without asking any questions.

Charles - - Good idea about the photo - - Should be able to do pretty easy - -

Thank you, gentlemen - I appreciate your inputs -
HsvKen

[Reactionary]

Ken, by all means question the City of Huntsville - talk to the Code Enforcement people, find out what appeals are available, etc. I'm interested in what you learn and hope you share your findings (and since you brought this up, you are compelled to follow through with the story and keep us informed

What I was responding to as 'counterproductive' was your musing about 'who turned you in' and "retaliation". No more than that.

Good luck.