topic Re: What do you think in Among Friends

What do you think

dex — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 17:23:30 GMT

We have a piece of property with 4duplexes that works out to eight cabins owned by friends.Our duplex was rebuilt years ago with extra expenses so that we could be compliant for insurance purposes and also to get a building permit.We had to move our structure away from the one next door for fire safety etc.Now our neighbor wants to build a mini cabin in the fire safety zone to accommodate his extra guests.We would have used that space ourselves to make our place bigger if it was legal.Anyhow we told him that we can’t agree to that or our insurance wouldn’t pay the full amount and he would be making us non compliant.He is really angry and not speaking to us now.Do you think we are unfair.He would need to build this stucture without a permit.We think he should build on from the back of his place but this little cabin is easier and cheaper for him.

Re: What do you think

ECBG — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 17:29:48 GMT

I think you are totally within your rights and showing good judgement. If by chance, you did have a fire problem, was he willing to reimburse you fully in the case your structure was damaged or lost?

I sincerely doubt it.

Re: What do you think

LurkyLoo — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 17:31:09 GMT

I don't think you are being unfair at all, @dex, and you are going by the legal codes.

The neighbor, on the other hand, is being unreasonable.

Re: What do you think

Kachina624 — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 17:37:03 GMT

If he can't get a building permit, it should be a moot point. It's illegal; all you have to do is report him to code enforcement if he initiates construction.

Re: What do you think

RedTop — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 17:42:39 GMT

A no-brainer; if it wasn’t legal for you then, it isn’t legal for your neighbor now.

He’s mad because he’s already got a plan worked out in his head and is ready to go with it.

Re: What do you think

happycat — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 17:47:20 GMT

@dex wrote:
We have a piece of property with 4duplexes that works out to eight cabins owned by friends.Our duplex was rebuilt years ago with extra expenses so that we could be compliant for insurance purposes and also to get a building permit.We had to move our structure away from the one next door for fire safety etc.Now our neighbor wants to build a mini cabin in the fire safety zone to accommodate his extra guests.We would have used that space ourselves to make our place bigger if it was legal.Anyhow we told him that we can’t agree to that or our insurance wouldn’t pay the full amount and he would be making us non compliant.He is really angry and not speaking to us now.Do you think we are unfair.He would need to build this stucture without a permit.We think he should build on from the back of his place but this little cabin is easier and cheaper for him.

No, I do not think you were unfair. You have to take care of you. If he is wanting to do something that is not legal, there is no way in heck I'd go for it.

We have land that adjoins our house. Neighbor keeps cattle on it. His kids got to where they liked to go out joyriding on their 4 wheers on it, going flying over the terraces. I told hubby that has to stop. Those kids get hurt on our land, we will end up getting sued for medical. The kids medical insurance will go after us. Not happening.

Re: What do you think

Nightowlz — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 17:54:32 GMT

No you are not being unfair. It's your property. You cannot build there so no way would I let someone else build there.

Since you know your Insurance will not pay the full amount if he builds the answer would be a big fat NO.

If he does not like it he can move.

I would not let him build anything without a Permit.

Re: What do you think

dex — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 17:54:59 GMT

The problem is that he is very angry and not speaking to us which is difficult as we all (8 families)share the property.He originally told us he was adding on behind his cabin which probably is not legal either but won’t affect our insurance.I think he came up with his new plan as it would be cheaper and much simpler job.I understand that he is dissapointed but he isn’t in my mind considering our position at all.We just happened to show up to close down our place and saw that he was prepping for his new mini cabin in our fire safety zone.

Re: What do you think

corita — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 18:01:29 GMT

Since he won't discuss the issue with you and it appears that he is going thru with the building, I would report him to the appropriate agency and let them handle it. He will probably hate you, but you are supported by the legal codes.

Re: What do you think

scatcat — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 18:02:03 GMT

Did I read that correctly? You told not to build on your property, illegally, and he is doing it anyway?

Re: What do you think

blackhole99 — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 18:14:55 GMT

@dexhow much do you love to go to the cabin? I could not tolerate neighbors that close to me on vacation or main residence. I would put the property up for sale.

Re: What do you think

dex — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 18:15:11 GMT

@scatcat no we just told him no when we arrived to find that he was getting ready to build.We didn’t know of this new plan.He hasn’t done anything significant yet and I am not sure that he will now but you never know.Some of the other couples I think agree with him and think we are being unfair.If he builds this place there will be only about three feet in between us which is not at all to code. We have been having hot dry summers for the last few years with many forest fires in the area so I just don’t want to chance anything even for a friend.The owner of the other side of our duplex is also against this as he would be non compliant too as we are one stucture.

Re: What do you think

Nightowlz — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 18:17:17 GMT

@dex wrote:
The problem is that he is very angry and not speaking to us which is difficult as we all (8 families)share the property.He originally told us he was adding on behind his cabin which probably is not legal either but won’t affect our insurance.I think he came up with his new plan as it would be cheaper and much simpler job.I understand that he is dissapointed but he isn’t in my mind considering our position at all.We just happened to show up to close down our place and saw that he was prepping for his new mini cabin in our fire safety zone.

@dex

I would report him now. If you showed up to close the place next time you show up his structure will be finished?

He should be able to build what he wants on his property as long as it's legal with a Permit.

He can be mad all he wants I still would not let him build on your property.

He will be really mad when you come back with his new structure & has to tear it down after he paid for material & built it.

Re: What do you think

Kachina624 — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 18:16:57 GMT

@dex. Let your local code enforcement officer be the bearer of bad news. If your neighbor is mad at you, that's his problem. Hopefully he'll get over it but there's no reason you should feel guilty about it.

Re: What do you think

dex — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 18:17:41 GMT

@Nightowlz@This is a shared property with four duplexes each half duplex owned by separate families.

Re: What do you think

Nightowlz — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 18:22:10 GMT

@dex wrote:
@Nightowlz@This is a shared property with four duplexes each half duplex owned by separate families.

@dex

So I guess you share your property with this guy that wants to build where you don't want him too. That makes for a sticky situation. You would have to decide who owns what or should have when you bought it.

If what he's doing is not legal & requires a Permit I would report him to keep it off the property.

Like you said you paid money to bring yours up to get the Insurance you wanted. I would not have done all that to now let him build there.

If I had to I would talk with an attorney.

Re: What do you think

dex — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 18:22:20 GMT

@blackhole99@It has been fun to spend summers together but as we all get older it seems that problems are cropping up.My husband found this lake property 32 years ago at a great price and we divided the cost evenly between 8 friends so we each had our summer getaway.It seems that things aren’t working as well as they have in the past but I was just wondering if I was unreasonable and didn’t recognize it.

Re: What do you think

blackhole99 — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 18:27:36 GMT

@dexno you are not unreasonable IMO, but the fellow who wants to do his thing on your property doesn't seem to care that he's being unreasonable I would never put up with that, it just would not be fun for me if there was tension with neighbors.

Re: What do you think

dex — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 18:37:43 GMT

@blackhole99@I agree that this will not be fun if there is tension and there will be as he is not speaking to us now.I can’t understand his anger though as he is potentially breaking the law.We wanted to make our place bigger but couldn’t according to code and had to move it over to be the proper distance from him.These cabins were old when we bought them (not built to today’s stricter codes)and ours and one other are the only ones compliant at this time.

Re: What do you think

occasionalrain — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 19:05:18 GMT

You need to explain your side of it to those siding with him. Once they understand your valid reasons for opposing they may change sides.