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I moved in last yr around this time into a TH. During the Fall, all the leaves from the house across the street ended up on our yard because they do zero leave collection. That house also has the world's largest tree (ok... a little exaggerated here but really, it's huge).
I'm ok with cleaning up leaves but to have to do it again and again because someone else doesn't bugs me. Oh, did I mention that our landscaping service charged about $200+ for the first clean up, then another $150 for the second. Then when Spring arrived, another $100+ for leaves that got left under the snow. These costs are split by the TH unit owners so I pay 1/3, but still, that's a lot of money for our tiny yard.
This is in Natick. Do towns have ordinances saying people have to clean up their own yard waste before it blows onto neighboring houses? The problem-house is not a condo or TH. I rarely see anyone occupy it, and even if I do, I don't want to confront the owner directly. What can I do? I'm afraid the same scenario will repeat this yr and I will have to pay that much again for removing someone else's leaves.
I moved in last yr around this time into a TH. During the Fall, all the leaves from the house across the street ended up on our yard because they do zero leave collection. That house also has the world's largest tree (ok... a little exaggerated here but really, it's huge).
I'm ok with cleaning up leaves but to have to do it again and again because someone else doesn't bugs me. Oh, did I mention that our landscaping service charged about $200+ for the first clean up, then another $150 for the second. Then when Spring arrived, another $100+ for leaves that got left under the snow. These costs are split by the TH unit owners so I pay 1/3, but still, that's a lot of money for our tiny yard.
This is in Natick. Do towns have ordinances saying people have to clean up their own yard waste before it blows onto neighboring houses? The problem-house is not a condo or TH. I rarely see anyone occupy it, and even if I do, I don't want to confront the owner directly. What can I do? I'm afraid the same scenario will repeat this yr and I will have to pay that much again for removing someone else's leaves.
My first thought was, "Are they elderly?" I know a lot of cases of homes that look unkempt turn out to have an elderly widow or couple who can neither do the work themselves nor afford to pay someone else. When I was growing up one such widow used to buy a few boxes of munchkins and lollipops and have every kid in the neighborhood show up for a leaf raking party.
If this is the case that the owner(s) cannot maintain their yard - or even if not - maybe go over and ask, "Do you need some help clearing your leaves?" and see what transpires. It's helpful rather than confrontational and may get you somewhere.
Good luck.
Last edited by tribechamy; 08-28-2013 at 06:00 PM..
Reason: grammar
I honestly never clean my leaves except from my gutters. I have way more important things to do than let my yard dictate my life. Do my neighbors complain? Not to me , but I wouldn't care anyway. I removed any bushes or shrubbery from my yard and no flower beds or landscaping. I have no trees on my lot and only have grass to mow every 10 days or so.
I say forget the leaves and get out and live life, you only get one.
We live in a condominium. The whole point of HOAs and condominiums is the idea that the whole neighborhood complies with a consistent standard of up-keep. One of the biggest advantages single-family home owners tout, in comparison to condos, is their ability to do what they wish, without having to abide by rules of the community. If folks can do what they wish, then they can do what they wish, without second-guessing of it by neighbors.
It would be a nice gesture though to offer to clean up a neighbor's property, though unless there was a good reason to assume that the neighbor would appreciate that gesture in the spirit intended, I could see how it could be misinterpreted as an insult.
I'm sure there are some teenagers around that would love the chance at a part-time job of cleaning up your leaves. They certainly wouldn't charge $150 to $200. Kids that are 14 or 15 seem to be the age to target. Of course if you live in a very affluent community the kids get all the $ they need from their parents.
Have been through that scenario. The only thing you can do is take care of your own property and hope that the wind blows in the opposite direction. :-) If it makes you feel better multiple clean ups are normal. Trees drop leaves at different times and of course the wind will blow them around. They will kill the grass if left too long. The cost for 3 clean ups is probably less expensive than new sod.
The homeowner could clean up his own leaves, without involving the landscaping company, and their fees.
Doesn't anyone do their own yardwork anymore?
Last edited by MassVt; 08-29-2013 at 09:24 AM..
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