Moved in 16 days ago, HOA called the cops yesterday. (Houston: crimes, attorney)

[jwtomt2day]

Originally Posted by texsn95

I'd love to know which subdivision this is...

The only reason I won't tell is because I'd hate for new and potentially nicer neighbors to be turned off to the neighborhood (I know I would if I had read this post).

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by BDFP

Good to know the police are on top of things like that.

They are pretty fast.... when it comes to the "easy stuff"

[astrohip]

Random thoughts:

* What do the deed restrictions (or HOA covenants) say? Before we go further, we really need to know that.

* If it's not illegal, why did someone call the police?

* If it's not illegal, why did the police respond?

Once you have the answers, then have a polite face-to-face talk with your neighbor. Nothing confrontational, nothing heated. Just ask why and listen to the response. You can learn everything you need to know by listening.

Then you can come back here and update us.

[20yrsinBranson]

Deed restrictions have nothing to do with it. Prior to buying the property you should have read the Covenants and Restrictions for this subdivision. If there are restrictions against parking on the street, they should be in there. If they are, you need to abide by them, and if they are not, then you have a valid complaint against your neighbor.

This is the precise reason why I refuse to buy a house with an HOA, it becomes a nazi-like organization after a while, and I have better things to do with my time than deal with that kind of mentality.

20yrsinBranson

[jwtomt2day]

1. The deed restrictions to not expressly forbid parking on the street.

2. The deed restrictions do forbid "being a nuisance" to your neighbors, which I think they have defined in a number of ways including parking on the street.

3. Like I said, on my street alone, there are four cars regularly parked on the street. That has been true for the last four months as we have visited the neighborhood and house and got the house prepared..etc. Why were we targeted this way?

4. I am not sure I want to have a face to face talk with my neighbor. Just 10 minutes before the cops came to our house my partner was outside. She waved at the neighbor who turned up her nose and went inside without saying a word. Then the cops showed up. This lady has gone to an extreme length, I feel, to say to us "WE ARE ENEMIES!" For that reason, I don't want to have any conversations with her.

[trbstang]

You should have received a full copy of the deed restrictions from the title company when you signed the closing documents. Mine was literally a 300 page photocopied binder. And our restrictions do state that a car can not stay in one spot on the street for over 24 hours. I don't know if that is a law, or just the restrictions though. So if the neighbor saw it in the same spot for 2 days, they brought it up to you in a non confrontational manner by using the police. Excessive, IMO, but maybe they had bad experiences with others not receptive to their strict enforcement of the rules. I would therefore make sure the car is moved several feet every day, making it obvious that it was driven. Not much they can do about that if it is within the rules.

I know we have a rental family right in the front of our neighborhood, and they have left a jacked up 1980's primer grey 4x4 pickup in the street for several days at a time. Not very pretty in a $200K+ neighborhood where 90% of the people park in their driveways. Plus it is right at a curve so it is hard to see around and manuever if there is oncoming traffic. Now they are parking it in the driveway most of the time, so I bet the HOA let them know.

[trbstang]

And another thing, go to the HOA meetings! Let them know you will be involved, and would appreciate a little common courtesy and respect. Like was said, a letter would have sufficed. Ours sends out many letters every month on the weeds in the cracks, visible garbage cans/ cans left out for 2 days, oversized lawn ornaments, etc. I'll bet they probably know the cop, that is why they got personal service.

[fordlover]

congratulations, You've moved in to a HOA controlled Hood. You have given up all your rights. Even if there is no rule requiring you to park in your driveway, they will change the rules. You have no recourse, you must follow the deed restrictions or they could eventually take your home.

Good luck to you.

[Illủmiñatex]

All this talk about partner partner partner makes me wonder if your new neighbor has something against gays.

[jwtomt2day]

Originally Posted by Illủmiñatex

All this talk about partner partner partner makes me wonder if your new neighbor has something against gays.

We are gay so that could be the problem...