topic Lawn Maintenance Workers in Home

Lawn Maintenance Workers

jellyBEAN — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 11:46:35 GMT

I live in a townhome community and our lawns are taken care of by an outside lawn/garden company. Every week they proceed to park all their trucks in front of the building I live at. They then unload all their equipment and often start filling the equipment with gas and oil that they carry in portable containers.

Of course, the gas and oil spill all over the road area in front of our building and curbside in front of my driveway. I guess this doesn't bother some people, but it bothers me because its become an unsightly mess. Oil and gas are forever staining the frontage area of our building. Not only do they spill the oil when filling their equipment, but the large trucks also leave large oil spills about 2ft. around in circles all over.

I've written our HO management company about this and they said they would let the owner of the company know. But it just goes on - every week - and I've spoken to the workers when I notice them pouring the gas and oil and spilling it all over the place. They either ignore me or do not understand what I am trying to say.

Would this bother you? I pay big bucks here in HOA fees monthly and the place looks terrible. There are just large oil spots all over the road area in front of our building. What else can I do?

Re: Lawn Maintenance Workers

newjerseygirl — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 11:50:37 GMT

@jellyBEAN Yes, it would bother me.

Re: Lawn Maintenance Workers

Janey2 — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 11:56:14 GMT

Does your community have a board of directors or a civic association? If so find out when they meet and go in person and state your problem.

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I am still oxox — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 11:58:31 GMT

Speak to your HOA, I am in a large garden apt complex, and the lawn people use gas powered leaf blowers and I can smell the fumes on my second floor window

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faeriemoon — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 11:59:06 GMT

Yes, it would bother me.

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millieshops — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 12:04:27 GMT

@jellyBEAN Yes, it would bother me. Yes, I'd notify management more than once. Yes, I'd write to my board members. And yes, I'd talk with my neighbors to see if anyone else is upset enough to so the same.

Re: Lawn Maintenance Workers

ValuSkr — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 12:07:26 GMT

Yes, it would bother me too. Have you sent photos of the stains to the management company? A picture says a thousand words, as they say. Failing that, I think you'll have to bring the issue before the Board.

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50Mickey — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 12:13:01 GMT

Yes it would bother me. Keep copies of all letters sent to the management company. Contact the HOA board of directors and request to meet with them in person in front if your home ASAP. Take pictures of the oil stains and keep it up. Ask that they demand that the landscape company pressure wash the street and curbs in front of you home. And request that the HOA let the management company know that the landscapers not park and unload their equipment in front of your home. If you do not live in a gated community and the streets are publicly owned contact the city or county and let them know about this. Good luck!

Re: Lawn Maintenance Workers

SunSprite — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 12:14:10 GMT

@jellyBEAN No, it probably wouldn't bother me. Do you call HOA for them to send someone to clean it up when it happens?Or call property management?

Have you tried taking pictures and sending to the HOA?

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Jaspersmom — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 12:21:12 GMT

First and foremost, document all written correspondence and phone calls. Next, take pics if you can. Next, CALL your management company as it's happening. Tell them you are with the landscape workers and you want to speak to the owner of the landscaping company. Tell

management you will be withholding a part of your monthly maintenance charges until the problem is corrected. If you haven't done so already, write a letter to the HOA BOD with copies to each and every member. Tell them you expect a reply by a certain date. Don't know if you want to go this far, but you can get a petition going if you think your neighbors are as upset as you are. Finally, if the gas is being spilled and winding up in the soil or in drainage basins of some type, that might be an environmental problem. You can call your county office to lodge a complaint. I would tell management you're reporting them to the county.

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Peaches McPhee — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 12:54:14 GMT

But what alternatives do they have? They have to park and fill their equipment in front of someone's home.

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Twins Mom — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 12:58:57 GMT

Yes, this would greatly bother me. I get it but there are many who don't understand how outside appearances make a difference. It's a matter of pride of ownership.

My neighbor lets his grass grow to the city legal limit and then leaves grass clippings on sidewalk and street. Drives me nuts. Lawn services I have seen appear more careful with their equipment. I wish you luck in getting point across that this sloppiness is not necessary.

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goldensrbest — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 13:17:25 GMT

This would upset me, keep trying to get this to stop,good luck.

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ValuSkr — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 14:29:10 GMT

@Peaches McPhee wrote:
But what alternatives do they have? They have to park and fill their equipment in front of someone's home.

True. But they should do so without spilling on the ground.

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on the bay — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 15:04:11 GMT

@jellyBEAN -

Yes it would definitely bother me!

@newjerseygirl -

Isn't that so true?! I think NJ is the only state in the country where you still don't have to pump your own gas! And I love how they only use the left lane for passing! (not speeding 100 mph!)

Re: Lawn Maintenance Workers

Imaoldhippie — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 15:13:19 GMT

You made a mistake talking to the workers, now they are/will mostly likely make a bigger mess because it upsets you.

Obviously, your HOA people dont care since it is not on their front drive. IMO it is time for you to take some stronger action. Such as putting it in writing (nicely) and sending in to the HOA, management office and anyone else involved in your complex. Give them, as an example, 30 days to get it corrected, or you will start withholding your fee (put it aside & dont spend it), and you will contact city, county and state EPA. You could also tell them you will be also contacting a lawyer and you will be more than happy to pay your HOA fees when there is something done to elevate the situation.

This is all suggestion but it is what I would do.

Re: Lawn Maintenance Workers

henderson — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 15:26:50 GMT

@Imaoldhippie wrote:
You made a mistake talking to the workers, now they are/will mostly likely make a bigger mess because it upsets you.

Obviously, your HOA people dont care since it is not on their front drive. IMO it is time for you to take some stronger action. Such as putting it in writing (nicely) and sending in to the HOA, management office and anyone else involved in your complex. Give them, as an example, 30 days to get it corrected, or you will start withholding your fee (put it aside & dont spend it), and you will contact city, county and state EPA. You could also tell them you will be also contacting a lawyer and you will be more than happy to pay your HOA fees when there is something done to elevate the situation.

This is all suggestion but it is what I would do.

Do not withhold paying your HOA fee!!

Re: Lawn Maintenance Workers

Kachina624 — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 16:03:51 GMT

No, it wouldn't bother me because I'd realize there isn't much that can be don't about it. The machines have to be filled. Spillage is inevitable. I doubt it makes the huge mess the OP describes.

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VaBelle35 — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 17:34:26 GMT

I have the same setup as you, and I find that people treat our parking areas/private roads as if they are public parking lots and roads. Smokers throw their butts in the street, empty their car trash, ash trays, fast food drink containers onto the ground when they get out of their car.

They don't consider it "property" and they don't consider it part of anyone's home. To them it's a parking lot/public dumping ground.

Re: Lawn Maintenance Workers

jellyBEAN — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 19:00:17 GMT

Thank u for the responses. I'd previously contacted our HOA management company on 2 separate occasions. I'd also contacted the person on our HOA board at a prior time. The HOA board member never responded. The HOA management company responded once in which they stated they'd speak to the owner.

It's not as if you can just sweep away oil and gas as if it were debris. It's there - for the duration of time. Torrential rainstorms can't even wash it away. Another resident across from me and I got together one weekend to try and clean it ourselves. It lightened up all the spots somewhat, but they are still there.

Painters use drop cloths to catch their messes. I also suggested they do their refueling in one of the many common areas where no one lives. There is ONE RIGHT NEXT DOOR to our building. Walking the 20ft. over to this area is not that big of an ordeal.

Comes down to when its not your problem, who cares?