Crazy Neighbor/HOA

[OCKlasse]

Hey guys,

I have an absolutely insane neighbor. She hates our family for some reason (of which I don't know) and bitches about everything concerning us. Mind you she has lived in her house for less than two years and us for 18. Here's what is relevant to this thread:

She spoke to the president of our HOA and claims that:

- I run an elaborate detailing business out of the house (I see an average of one car a week at most -- I am a 22 year-old college student with work and 16 units of school).

- Her son has severe asthma directly attributed to my foam cannon

Well, because of her continuous complaints, the HOA has been hawking over my activities. I was washing a family member's car last week when one of them came and harassed me--basically threatened that if he catches me doing cars other than direct family, he will get the city involved. I find this quite amusing as I was washing a family member's car at the time he came and harassed me.

Just today I was washing my own car out front. The neighbor walks by and sees this, and within five minutes an HOA rep is driving by the house staring me down.

It's now to the point that full details done at the house need to be done with both garage doors closed and ONR instead of my pw and foam cannon.

Anyone else deal with this blatant insanity? Or am I the only unlucky bastard?

[bigltc]

There's a nut that calls code enforcement all the time in our neighborhood.

[DavidB]

Why not go and get legit with the city by doing why is necessary to get a business license to operate a home business? Convert to waterless washing. When the HOA comes by tell the to shove it.

I had the same issue when I was running my ecommerce business out of my garage. A neighbor complained that all of the truck deliveries were disturbing. My business had nothing to do with UPS, FedEx and USPS driving by every day. The only thing I added was a Roadway every other week and the occasional Uline delivery.

I got tired of the complaining and went to the city to get a permit to operate an ecommerce biz out of my home. The HOA came by again after the neighbor complained -- again -- and I pointed to the framed permit on my garage wall. Problem solved.

All kinds of people work from home. If they stop you, they have to stop everyone. Get the license/permit from the city and tell them to shove it!

[David Fermani]

Has anyone heard of a city allowing someone a permit to detail cars out of their garage in a HOA type neighborhood?

[Setec Astronomy]

Don't get me started about neighbors. No detailing issues for me (yet?), it's other stuff.

[Jean-Claude]

Have you tried to talk to her? I know it's tough trying to reason with crazy people but it's worth a shot.

Go over and explain your situation. Tell her that having a good relationship with her as a neighbor is important to you but you need to continue to operate your business. How can I make this work in a way that doesn't effect you in a negative way?

Sometimes just hearing how you're willing to work with someone is enough to get them off your back. Try being diplomatic.

[DavidB]

Originally Posted by David Fermani

Has anyone heard of a city allowing someone a permit to detail cars out of their garage in a HOA type neighborhood?

City permit has nothing to do with HOA rules. If the HOA does not allow it, that is a different issue. Legally an HOA cannot tell you that you cannot have a business in your home. A home business is a city permit issue. What they can say is "no automobile work in driveway allowed". This has to be spelled out in the CC&Rs .

[Jokeman]

I don't understand why anyone would wanna live in an area with an HOA. Thank god we don't have those around here.

[CocheseUGA]

Whatever you do, be prepared for the HOA to come back with a way to make your life miserable. Because that's the only purpose to them.

Get a permit? No non-family cars allowed at your residence.
Family come over? HOA person bangs at your door to see proof of ownership.
Start washing inside? HOA builds a gate.

There's no end to these vile things.

[David Fermani]

Originally Posted by DavidB

City permit has nothing to do with HOA rules. If the HOA does not allow it, that is a different issue. Legally an HOA cannot tell you that you cannot have a business in your home. A home business is a city permit issue. What they can say is "no automobile work in driveway allowed". This has to be spelled out in the CC&Rs .

Thanks for the clarity David. Do you think it would be wiser for someone faced with this problem to get a city permit for Mobile Detailing instead? Wider range of authorization.

[lland]

A while back, my neighbor had a small, unoffensive trailer parked in his driveway. One of the ohter neighbors complained to the HOA (rules said no boats, campers, trailers could be parked in a driveway). The HOA told him it was against the rules so he moved it to the street where the HOA had no jurisdiction as it was a public street. My neighbor mentioned to the neighbor who complained that he may just park it in front of her house. A day later, the HOA agreed to let him keep it in his driveway.

Perhaps if you washed cars in the street...

LL

[cgc]

HOA suck....

I moved into this neighborhood because I saw that with the area it was in, what they were building around it and with SOME of the HOA rules everything should be maintained.

HOWEVER.....when I started getting letters from the douche bags because my trash can was left out a day after it was picked up.....I realized how bad a HOA can suck.

We know a neighbor who received a letter because their kids left a football out in their yard.

SERIOUSLY? is your life that bad to complain about a kid leaving a football in the front yard?

Well, see what happens when I start doing cars at the house....see how long that lasts...heh.

They're going to piss me off bad enough one day I'm gonna plant a bunch of sunflowers in the front yard just t piss them off....