HOA blames me (condos, townhouse, move)

[Johnat1425]

I have bought a new town house. Recently, I received a letter from the HOA asking me to remove cigarette butts strewn between my house and the house facing mine. I do not smoke and neither does my wife. I walked around and found that several butts are lying in the houses next to mine as well. The letter has asked me to remove the butts or submit my appeal in writing.

What should my next steps be ? In future, what should I do to ensure that I am not a target of something like this ?

[EscapeCalifornia]

Collect them in a bag and drop it on the HOA president's door.

[curiosa]

Don't know if HOA's are different between townhouse and condos. From what I know, it should be HOA's resposibility to notify everyone about littering and the cigarette butts being found in that area. Chances are if your neighbors smoke you will see them at some point. As long as you are sure that your visitors or any of your children should you have any do not smoke as well, I would contact your HOA board and formally notify them that nobody at your home smokes and refuse to clean external grounds being that you know your neighbor does smoke. Taking a quick snap shot photo of your neighbors smoking doesnt hurt either.

[24hr7]

yeah just tell them you dont smoke and if they are cool it should be the end of it. They should investigate the where the cig butts come from before making a quick decision. Just document all your correspondents with them.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by 24hr7

yeah just tell them you dont smoke and if they are cool it should be the end of it. They should investigate the where the cig butts come from before making a quick decision. Just document all your correspondents with them.

I would do all the above. Go ahead, pick them up but also let them know you do not smoke, nor does your wife and you don't think it is your responsebility to pick them up in the future or to be a watch dog.

NIta