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[henderson]

We live in an gated HOA.  I've been on the board for over 12 years.  We do not own our front or back yard and the HOA takes care of the landscape/maintenance.  It's always a problem getting them to take care of our weeds (we do have a lot of desert landscaping instead of sod).  It's the largest expense of our budget -- $4795 per month for 120 homes.  We just changed landscape companies -- always a problem with our irrigation/bjroken sprinklers as our homes are 20 years old.  You should read the contract between your HOA and landscaper to see what is included.  We have one person on site each day and a crew one day to mow and blow.  Our complaint from homeowners are just small weeds.  I can't believe your weeds are ovdr 4 feet!!  Sounds like a fire hazard to me.  I would check with your city on this.

[Tigriss]

@151949 OH NO! I'm sure there could be some kind of additional locks you could install, but again....it is just glass, pretty but breakable.

[Zhills]

To secure sliding glass doors while in the closed position, you can install a pin lock by drilling a hole at a downward angle into the over-lapping frames of the doors center. Insert a pin with a clasp to secure the doors when closed. A pin with an additional locking mechanism will offer greater security. If your not sure about installing it yourself, have a licensed and insured professional install the pin lock for you. That way your covered if they accidentally shatter the glass during the install, instead of on your own if you attempt it

[pattypeep]

You may want to begin taking pictures in case you have to confront the board in the future.

[Lacey1]

I personally would not live in an HOA for many reasons. You have to weigh the pros and cons. It seems the OP has many complaints about her HOA commitee, neighbors, etc. Maybe an apartment would suit her needs better.

 BTW, I do NOT want poison sprayed on my property. Pulling weeds is good exercise!

[Lipstickdiva]

If there was something in the covenants that you weren't living up to, you can bet that HOA would be all over you to comply.  They need to do the same. 

[151949]

ITA with all of you - but as soon as someone brings it up at a meeting the board says they will have to raise the fees to get the weeds pulled and everyone shuts up. However, no one here is getting any younger and there are  a few really elderly people here who can't do their weeds so then their neighbors have to go & pull them or put up with looking at them - and all the snowbirds aren't here all summer so they just grow like crazy in our yards. We purchased this place specifically because it was "maintainence free" so we felt we could go home in the summer and not have to worry about the lawn care. HA.

[Tigriss]

@151949 Have you considered consulting a lawyer specilizing in HOA issues? Florida must be full of them. For a small fee, he/she can review your contract and advise you as to a course of action, plus give you a letter of possible suite if the HOA isn't doing their job. Now they know you have know your rights and they can't raise the rates because it is already built into the contract fee, which you are paying, to take care of the property fully to the HOA agreement instead of telling people they will raise the rates just so people will shut up. The lawyer fee could be split if your neighbors agree to go in it with you. Group action begets action. That fee would be worth it. Then the HOA knows not to screw with the people of the neighborhood; no people, no neighborhood, no HOA.

@Zhills....great idea!

[151949]

The board can raise the HOA fees any time they want to as long as they get a majority vote among the 5 of them. They do not need a majority of the entire membership.

[Tigriss]

Oh my...I'm so sorry you've got this serious issue.  I can't believe they aren't and have no interest in abiding by their contract.  I'm feel very fortunate not to have HOAs to deal with and pay for.  I doubt the board memebers change often, nor could someone be elected that would do the right thing?  Why isn't people won't just do the right thing/do their job.  I hope you can get some resloution since I know what it is like to hack out those weeds and pull them and maintain 5 acres of land, but wow the work you've put in on your lot.  I know how hard the work is.  I wonder if they would let the neighborhood have a goat or sheep that would be allowed to just graze and eat the grass/weeds since they don't want to abide by their contract.  Wouldn't that want to motivate them, but I bet you can't have "farm" animals as pets just dogs and cats.  They probably even tell you what breeds you can and can't have. Oh the ravages of HOAs.

 Right now, my neighbor is cutting my grass in excange for his sheep eating in my back yard.  His yard is much smaller, so I have no problem letting his sheep munch on my back of 5 acres since I don't do anything with it other than cut it.  He cuts around the house and back I use and the sheep take care of the rest.