Why do people put up with HOA's? (McLean, Fairfax: lawyer, deed)

[knopfler]

Originally Posted by HEATHER72

Our HOA sends out X amount of letters to the home owner about the long grass and then send out someone to cut it and bills them for it. I wouldn't let my neighbor's abandoned lawn get that long. I'd cut it myself if I was sick of looking at it.

Fine, but then what happens if there's no response and no payment? That's what appears to be happening with our friend. I'm quite certain either the county or the HOA (or both) is/are billing the owners of the empty property. With nonpayment, the HOA can put a lein on the property. OK, let's assume that in our friend's case, the HOA has done that. Now what?

[nixau27]

I agree with heather72. If it's not too big a lawn I would cut it myself. Isn't that what neighbors do anyway? I guess it would be old after awhile though,,,

[Novamom06]

I disagree about cutting it yourself, the high lawn can be very dangerous - ticks, snakes, etc. It is a health hazard to have high lawns like that. I'd call the county health dept.

[HEATHER72]

I would have cut the lawn BEFORE it got to be 5 feet high... and I want to see a photo of the 5 foot high grass and weeds.

[Jim On the Potomac]

[nixau27]

Yuck! That's a pathetic picture! Hope I don't suffer the same fate. I'm moving to NOVA by end of June and i'm intently reading this thread and i'm making sure i remember the pros and cons of living in a subdivision w/HOA and one w/no HOA. Maybe drive around and look at the houses and all.

[springfieldva]

Jim - what part of NOVA is so, uh, rustic? I can honestly say I've never seen a development quite like that one.

[Tideas]

what's HOA? haha

[Fairfax Mom]

We live in a development without an HOA - the neighborhood watch reported a home with grass over a foot high - within 2 day sFairfax county had ticked the home (little green ticket on the door) if the homeowner does not mow - they will be charged for the mowing by the county - within another day or two the lawn was mowed. I was suprised that the county acted so quickly.

[springfieldva]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

We live in a development without an HOA - the neighborhood watch reported a home with grass over a foot high - within 2 day sFairfax county had ticked the home (little green ticket on the door) if the homeowner does not mow - they will be charged for the mowing by the county - within another day or two the lawn was mowed. I was suprised that the county acted so quickly.

My neighborhood doesn't have an HOA either. But I've also noticed that the county doesn't put up with long grass for very long. Our civic association will also send out reminders to people, if needed.