So my neighbors (neighbors could mean anyone that lives in my condo building) reported me again for working on one of my cars in the parking garage.

First time I was doing an oil change back in october. This time I have absolutely no idea what their problem is. I've had the rx7 on jackstands to inspect bottom of the car for leaks and whatnot. I also had the hood popped a couple times in the past 2 weeks inspecting other various things and changing the headlights.

But I can't figure out what their problem is. I left the headlights in my parking spot for a few days and planned on taking them into my house on the weekend (yeah I'm kinda lazy).

So I came home one day and found them missing out of my parking spot. I also found a lovely letter from the HOA saying I had my second violation and that a resident reported me and brought them my headlights. This makes my blood boil because I didn't know I could walk around the garage and steal people's property at whim. If it had been the HOA that took the headlights I wouldn't be mad, but since it was a resident (and probably the same jackass as last time), I'm slightly irritated now.

Anyone else have to deal with this crap? The HOA rules state I am allowed to perform minor maintenance. And here is what they define as minor maintenance: Replacing serpentine belts, changing tires, changing filters. LOL! All of those would involve potentially having the car on jackstands! Especially if it's a 996 where the engine is in the rear and most of the parts are accessed from the bottom of the car!

Arghhhhhhh. Stupid uppity yuppies.

 

HOAs help to protect the investment of others with real estate. Don't get me started...I am actually pro-HOA. Not saying YOU did anything wrong...but many fokks have poor taste when it comes to their home and they have poor judgment on how that can impact the neighborhood...and add in values of said properties...and well, there you go. My pet peeves are things like boats parked at a house...cars parked on the side street when they could use their own garage...and not keeping up with lawn care.

 

Fokks was meant to be "folks." LOL! .

 

I don't think the OP's issues are with the HOA but rather with his neighbor. HOA's operate within very well defined rules and rarely stray from them because of fear of folks lashing back. I am saying this as an administrator of a commercial HOA.

If what the OP is doing is okay within the HOA rules, he needs to get the HOA administrators to step up for him. They should have instructed the neighbor that he was within his rights and that they had no recourse. His property should be returned to him.

With that said, it seems to me that the OP his pressing the rules a bit. I sincerely doubt that occupying a parking spot with parts is permitted under the rules. I imagine that the OP will get cooperation with his neighbors when he starts to follow the rules to the letter 100% of the time. If not, it will be much easier to be in the right when to go and complain about being harassed for doing acceptable maintenance to your auto.

 

^what this person said.

im pretty sure i would have reported the headlights, although i wouldnt have taken them in myself. there was never enough parking in my apartment area, so a pair of headlights chilling in a spot would be a big no-no..

 

HOA's are an outlet for the passive aggressive. Unfortunately, the only way you will solve your dilemma is to go to them and ask waht you are doing wrong. Having a copy of the bylaws will be immensely important here.

But, yeah, dont leave your parts out. People have HOA's for just this kind of thing.

 

And thats why I'm 100% against HOAs. I take the side of this is my property, I paid for it, so who are you to tell me what to do with it? I feel if HOA wants to tell me what I can and cant do they should pay my bills for me. Just my 2 cents.

 

It wouldn't hurt if you got to know your neighbors ......

 

I think HOA's help in situations where you have lazy neighbors that like to park their cars on the grass, put them on blocks and make them living quarters.

But when you move in, you are supposed to be made aware of the presense of a HOA.

 

^^^ If you bought in a subdivision that had an HOA in place when you bought, you don't have a leg to stand on. You should have bought somewhere else.