Home Owning

Neighbor Relations

The world is full of people with different personalities, quirks, moods and attitudes. In many ways human interaction is one of the most complex, or simple experiences we all share together.

When they live right next door, or just down the block, many people tend to pay more attention because of the proximity, others just don’t seem to want to get involved. Neighbors can become lifelong friends or remain like two ships passing silently in the night.

Because neighbor relations can have lasting effects and often-complex situations arise, the best answer, if there is one, is not always clear. Dear Monty answers questions on a variety of questions that appear principally because it involves a neighbor. If you have a question, just Ask Monty.

  1. We are dealing with a municipality issue. We have a big problem with a new fire code. Do you have any advice for us?

    Reader Question: We are dealing with a municipality issue. We have a big problem with a new fire code dictating new elevations and width measurements of the easement road which currently services eight homes. Our real estate agent discovered it answering a prospect’s question about fire codes. We requested a variance in this provision in a […]

  2. We have a weak homeowners association board. What can we do to change things?

    Reader Question: We have a weak homeowners association board. Our homeowner’s association (HOA) has bylaws. The HOA is not proactive in enforcing them and has allowed residents to violate, only addressing the violations if someone files a complaint. This refusal to proactively monitoring property conditions puts the complaining homeowner in harm’s way by exposing them to […]