Steps To Take If You're Tired Of Looking At Your Neighbor's Unkempt Yard

When you step into your yard for a moment of outdoor relaxation in your hideaway retreat, the last thing you want to look over and see is piles of junk and trash throughout the yard of the neighboring property. Unfortunately though, this is the reality for many homeowners. Don't let this problem ruin your view. There are a few steps you can take if you're tired of looking at your neighbor's unkempt yard. While speaking exclusively to House Digest, consumer law attorney Danny Karon revealed exactly what you should do — report them to the appropriate authorities.

"If you believe your neighbor is violating your HOA, you may report them to your board," Karon explained. "HOAs require homes and yards to be maintained in a certain way. If a homeowner violates this requirement, they're subject to reprimand under the HOA." Even if you don't have an HOA, you still don't have to suffer. There are alternative options you can consider. "If you don't have an HOA and you believe your neighbor is violating the law, you can either report them to the police or consider filing a civil case for public nuisance or an injunction," the attorney added. Let's dive further into how to put these steps into action.

If you've never filed an HOA complaint before, you might be a bit unsure about how to report your neighbor's unkempt yard. The process will vary depending on your HOA's processes."Read your HOA rules to see what steps it requires you to take," Karon shared while speaking exclusively to House Digest. Educating yourself on the rules specific to your neighborhood will help you effectively file an HOA complaint that can actually result in a solution. 

If you do not have an HOA, the procedure might be a bit more complicated since you would either be filing a civil case or a police report. "As for a public case, your appropriate venue is likely a small claims court," Karon explained. "You can easily call the clerk and ask what's involved in filing a lawsuit. The court's website should also provide plentiful guidance." To file a police report as your first step, contact your local police department so that they can walk you through the process. This will also vary depending on the procedures your local police department follows, so it's best to gather the necessary information from them directly.

It's important to understand what kind of messes break your local yard maintenance rules. You might not be able to report grass that is just slightly overgrown, but what about a yard filled with junk? While speaking exclusively to House Digest, Karon provided insight on what may qualify as a violation. "It's difficult to describe the types of messes that qualify," he said. "You'll need to read the HOA rules or local ordinances to see what qualifies. But generally trash qualifies. I've seen plenty of unmowed lawns, but I've never heard of a case filed related to that — likely because the law wouldn't support one."

Since yard violations and reporting rules will vary across different municipalities, you should research your local laws to gather all of the information you need as well. Karon recommends starting with an online search. You can also call your local small claims clerk's office and request insight on the homeowner cases that have been filed. This will give you an idea of what has been reported in the past regarding critical lawn maintenance that has been neglected.