Home Owners Association query

theratman

theratman

Honorary Master
Joined
Jan 21, 2008
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Location
Sparkle Town
Hi guys,

I bought a house a few years ago in a cul de sac that fell under a HOA run by watchprop.I pay a monthly fee for a garden service that I have no choice in using. Over the last 2 years December and January are a nightmare as the service never comes to cut the grass,as a result I had ridiculously high grass 2 years ago and I lost half my newly planted lawn after it was cut.

This year was no different,the guys never rocked up and never informed me as a resident that they were not going to cut the grass over this period. Which brings me to my question, I'm going to dispute the fee with the HOA as there has been no service rendered and no announcement that there will be no service over this period.Its only R250pm but I feel it's more about the principle than anything else.

I'd like to hear your guys thoughts.
 
lodge official complaint

keep everything on record

if you able to stop paying, do so after you have engaged with the HOA and nothing is resolved
 
Thanks mountainboy, I sent the following:

I'd like to bring to your attention the lack of garden services over the December / Early January period in *******.Whilst I understand this is over the festive season no effort was made by the service to inform residents of when the next service will take place.

There is a monthly levy that is paid by residents towards this service and if the said service is not provided then surely there should be a reduction in :

A. Funds paid to the current garden service.
B. A reduction in the levy for the period.
C: An alternate day when the service will be done.

I'm aware that the levy is low but it's rather unfair for a resident to contribute to a service that is not provided. I've resorted to purchasing my own lawn mower in order to prevent the grass over growing an
d subsequently dying.

I look forward to your response.
 
I'm a "director" at my HOA, and I would deal with this if it was happening by us. As mentioned, complain about this in writing so that you have a record of this. Also, do they not cut anyone's grass or only yours, if its everyone's then there is a bigger problem and they should suspend the services over the months in question.

But I see no reason why they dont come to do the gardens over December/January, if it was Christmas day then thats a different situation, but the whole month...
 
Yes it's all the residents whose grass has not been cut. It's not that the grass is unsightly at the front due to the recent heat but the last time it was cut was the 11th December,well over a month ago.Its supposed to be cut every 2 weeks.

The 2 dates they supposed to come cut fell on public holidays which I can understand why they wouldn't come but then I should not pay or they should inform that they won't be coming from x-y. I've just heard back from the Chairman and he's going to bring it up with the garden service owner.
 
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You're paying for a service, if they don't come, you don't pay - that's how I see it.

When I had a garden service, if the date he comes on falls on a public holiday, and he chooses not to come, then I won't pay him for that day - he is not an employee of mine entitled to paid leave.
 
R250pm for garden service is nothing if their work includes trimming lawn/hedges twice a month. If the company did not service the estate for that period, I would ask for a refund (and ask the HOA to withhold payment to the service provider). Does the service company do the gardenservice on common property and on your property?
 
There is no grass on the common property, they only do the residents property . I've been doing it myself since they haven't come but I can't trim edges so I need them for that. I'll see what the garden service owners response is.For me it's not about the money but the principle.
 
After the initial quick response from the HOA I've followed up with no response. Needless to say I'm going to be sending them an email stating that I won't be paying any levies etc until the matter has been addressed by either the HOA or the service itself.
 
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