Our neighbor think we are invading their privacy because the playhouse is on the slope and the kids can see their house from the playhouse and they also think it affect their property value. While I don’t see how a beautiful playhouse from your neighbor’s yard can lower your property value, I understand where are they coming from and therefore I am not saying who’s right or wrong. However the privacy issue can be fixed by planting some trees.
If the table is turned, I would not mind the playhouse from my neighbor at all. After all it is just for kids and its not like someone is living in that playhouse. My kids only go out to play once in a while or when they have friends over. Childhood is so short and they will outgrow it in a few years anyway. My husband and me are just shocked how they destroy our relationship with no reserve. Who knows our kids may end up in the same class and they are only in the first grade now. We were so looking forward to invite their son to come over to play in the playhouse and now no way for it to happen. Feel so bummed since we are new to the neighborhood and we are planning to stay here for many many years.
Back to the HOA, the responsibility of HOA is to take care of the maintenance of the common area. So our biggest argument is that our backyard is not visible from any common area. Can the HOA still force us to take it down because our next door neighbor complain about it? We are the homeowner too and how can they protect the interest of one owner over the other? As for the CC&R, the wordings are ambiguous like ‘ include but not limited to’. So potentially we have to get an approval if we want to dig a hole in our yard !!
Just wish I know more about the decision making process of the Hoa board.
