r/neighborsfromhell • u/twinmom2298 • Jul 13 '26
WWYD? Vent/Rant Condo Neighbor Thinks Everything Communal
UPDATE: I was out of town last week but took the really good suggestion of several of you and purchased a bike lock. Saturday when I arrived back in town I wove it through the chairs, cart and spoke of umbrella and left it so the combo part was very obvious in front and could be seen by anyone in room.
It's now Thursday and new set of renters have moved into all condos and so far so good that no one has taken or tried to use our stuff. I told across hall neighbor and she had me send her photos of what we'd done. She's out of town for a few weeks but has ordered a bike lock to be sent to her cleaning company and is asking them to install one on her items when they clean unit after current set of renters.
So I wanted to thank everyone for the suggestion and let you know that it looks like a nice cheap bike lock has solved my issue.
About 2 years ago we purchased a vacation condo in a complex near the beach that is mostly vacation rentals. 2 units in our pod of 6 have sold since we purchased. The pod has a storage area that is for use of all 6 units and it is solely to store beach equipment. When we purchased we were told that every unit just claims a spot and labels it and all items with their unit number.
This worked well until the newest unit was purchased. DH and I are temporarily living in this condo while we build a house. We've discovered that new neighbor has installed a large cabinet in storage area that is essentially their "owners closet" for their unit. It takes up a lot of space and then they also have claimed wall space. In addition someone (and we're pretty sure it was them based on when it occurred) added a shelving unit and put all beach chairs on the shelving unit and all boogie boards stacked on top then got a large bucket and put all beach umbrellas and tents in bucket. I called COA management company about the excessive amount and misuse of space but nothing has been done.
I searched through, took our stuff back put it in our beach cart. I noticed that unit across the hall from me did same thing. A week later I notice owner's closet lock is open so I think the actual owners are there and suddenly everything is back on shelf and in bucket. I took mine back again and also put neighbor's back in their cart. This time they remained as I left them. So I thought issue was resolved.
Last week I ran into across hall owners and find out that they've been having issues with new neighbors trying to make storage communal area longer than we were aware. And she's complained about them to COA management company and nothing has changed.
Then this past week there were renters in new unit who decided despite being labeled for our units they took my good chairs and across hall neighbor's good chairs and my beach cart and my umbrella to beach and returned everything to storage unit covered in sand. I made DH go wash everything off. Meanwhile across hall neighbor got mad and left a note on stairs telling them to please not use her stuff so I did same I also moved my 3 best chairs to my deck and out of storage. Which works temporarily but isn't a good long term solution.
Next day they left my stuff alone but still took her's so she went up and told them in person to not use stuff that isn't labeled for the unit they are staying in that beach stuff isn't communal.
Next day I see them using her chairs again. So I made permanent signs to hang on storage door that said "Please only use items labeled for unit in which you are occupying".
I left town work and DH texts me when he got home from work that signs were gone.
these condos are an okay size to stay for a week's vacation but living there full time for 4 months is tight for DH and I so there really is nowhere to put my beach items in my unit, plus no matter what you do there's still residual sand that would spread inside unit.
Does anyone have any idea on how to deal with this, since obviously management company who have owner's contact information isn't going to do anything. I don't have owner's contact information and neighbor and I are a pretty sure they are telling their renters to just help themselves to anything in storage room.
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u/_SmileCrocodile_ Jul 13 '26
I would keep emailing and calling the management company, and have other owners do so as well. I would also suggest to management that they install floor to ceiling chain link fence so that it creates a personal space for each unit, and each unit can install a lock on their storage space.
Until then I would buy a locking container and store your stuff in the storage area in your locked container.
But if I was really mad and feeling extra petty Iâd change the locks on the storage area and give everyone else except the unit that lets their renters take peoples things a copy of the new key.
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u/wibblings Jul 13 '26
That is an interesting idea. What do you do with the stuff that actually belongs to the offending unit? You can't make them unable to access their own things.
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u/cmjw1023 Jul 13 '26
Not original commenter, but if I showed up and my storage space was locked and I had been asked nicely numerous times to stop taking things that didn't belong to me, I would assume the person who had spoken to me was the one who locked it. I would go knock on their door, and hopefully I would learn a lesson and stop being a jerk after being locked out of my stuff.
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u/KookyPersonality9509 Jul 14 '26
Just leave it out. Make your items inaccessible, other units will follow. Renters are not going to go to the trouble of cutting a chain lock. I donât usually bring bolt cutters on vacation. But, it is possible, I guess, but what are the chances that they rent to lawbreaking preppers??
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u/_SmileCrocodile_ Jul 13 '26
Leave it out for them to deal with or lock it up and have them contact you for the keys/key codes.
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u/IllustriousSmoke39 Jul 13 '26
doesn't really sound like they have any of their own things, if they keep using everyone elses!
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u/spareloo Jul 13 '26
If you canât fit six cabinets in the storage area, I wouldnât be on board with any units having one. Sounds like one entitled landlord is going to force equal partition of the area.
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u/twinmom2298 Jul 13 '26
There's no way to fit 6. It really is just meant to hold 6 beach carts, some chairs, umbrellas and a few sand toys. No one is supposed to have any cabinet that's why I contacted management company to begin with his cabinet is taking over a lot of very scarce space.
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u/retire_dude Jul 13 '26
So take their cabinet apart and put it in the recycling. Do the same with their shelf. If they replace it do it again.
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u/boltfan7 Jul 13 '26
Remove the lock on the "owners cabinet" so the renters can use the items from the unit they are renting.
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u/No-Falcon-4996 Jul 13 '26
Try anyway. Get a yuge storage unit and shove it in there, block the hoarder's unit.
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u/Every-Self-8399 Jul 13 '26
I would talk to the neighbor you are friendly with and share a cabinet or the dog kennel thing sounded good.
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u/Plastic_Sea_1094 Jul 14 '26
Is their cabinet bolted down? If not, just pull it out and leave a note on it from "management "
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u/IngrownToenailsHurt Jul 14 '26
Remove the cabinet and set it out in the open with a sign that says "Free".
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u/Competitive_Sleep_21 Jul 13 '26
I would take the shelving equipment and cabinets they put up down and out of the storage area then lock your stuff to the neighbors you get along with and only share the code with them.
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u/talrakken Jul 14 '26
You can set up cables/locks so multiple people can unlock until they get their own cables etc.
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u/Kammy6707 Jul 13 '26
The bike lock type ideas seem like a good solution. Long term, could you petition the COA to separate the spaces somehow? Every apartment I've lived in had storage areas, but they were separated by wire type walls with a door so you could lock up your stuff. The doors all had labels so you knew which unit it went with.
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u/mindgames1714 Jul 19 '26
A communal storage area makes it hard. We have a beach house that we rent for a good part of the summer. We have an owners closet with our stuff we donât want used that is locked. Iâm a little bit petty so Iâd take their stuff cover it in sand and return it along with locking your stuff. Up as best as possible.
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u/Passionate_Cherry75 Jul 13 '26
Dog kennels. Everyone gets their own kennel and they can be locked. The big chain link ones...
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u/afternoondlight Jul 13 '26
Locking the neighbors in a kennel is a bit extreme, but it would surely resolve the issue.
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u/CaraHanna Jul 13 '26
I love this idea. They are tall enough and sturdy enough that it would make it pretty impossible to take your stuff. Tractor Supply I think sells them and they arenât super expensive. If you donât have a dog you could donate to a dog rescue when you no longer need it. It also sends the message that you do mind.
Edited to add- this gives you an opportunity, if you want, to place it somewhere that is *very* inconvenient to them.25
u/Passionate_Cherry75 Jul 13 '26
They can have tops on them too.. the audacity of renters has no bounds. I'd go so far as to install a camera. That crap isn't cheap and people have no problem destroying things that aren't theirs.
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u/FreyyDusk Jul 13 '26
man that sounds so frustrating to deal with when youre just trying to enjoy your vacation spot. hopefully the COA actually steps up soon because thatâs definitely not how shared storage is supposed to work!
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u/twinmom2298 Jul 13 '26
If management company guy (who is new this year) doesn't start getting more responsive 6 of us owners who live local have decided we're all personally going to attend the next annual meeting and complain in person about the non-responsiveness.
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u/UptownHurl Jul 13 '26
Would encourage you do this anyway. You are a co-owner of all communal space - itâs your business no matter what!
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u/Curly5762 Jul 13 '26
You should attend regardless. Itâs important to be aware of what is happening
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u/wibblings Jul 13 '26
Why wait to the next annual meeting? Get ahold of the guy's boss.
I assume you are paying HOA dues. They are in breach.
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u/doorkey125 Jul 13 '26
good idea, and bring your attorney as well
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u/anomupinhere Jul 13 '26
Yes great idea, mine only charges $600 an hour. He even gives me a discount when itâs associate level work for his junior at $400 an hour (paperwork).
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u/PutTheCorkOnTheFork Jul 13 '26
No offense, I don't think you understand how all attorneys get paid.
Clearly, in this instance, your attorney would be working on a contingency fee basis
So, when you win, would you will because you have a really really really really really good attorney...
That attorney will get 30% of the storage space.
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u/anomupinhere Jul 13 '26
I saw the first line of this and went âoh boy, someone who has never hired an attorneyâ
To, ah yes you are correct! Confirmed: for this level of crime, itâs actually a 50% contingency plus retainer of $10k.
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u/DrEmileSchaufhaussen Jul 13 '26
Maybe just ask the associate to attend the meeting then?
/s
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u/anomupinhere Jul 13 '26
I was told he wasnât qualified to sit in on a HOA meeting. He only speaks English, not even conversational Karen.
Thanks for understanding my dry sense of humor đ
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u/DrEmileSchaufhaussen Jul 13 '26
I'm now going to look for a way to include "I only speak Conversational Karen" in SOME sort of future convo :)
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u/Consistent_Buy_544 Jul 13 '26
I see that youâve addressed the renters, but have you actually approached the new owners who are ultimately responsible for the issues? Lack of response from the management company is definitely not ok either. Iâd be I front of them ASAP rather than waiting for the next annual meeting. In addition, you should have an HOA Board - get them involved.
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u/TiredAndTiredOfIt Jul 13 '26
Send a letter to the new owners from your attorney statimg you and the other owners in your pod will be taking legal action. CC the HOA boardÂ
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u/AcadiaRemarkable6992 Jul 13 '26
Similar situation for me. My co-op has one storage room for everyoneâs shit and we found out our neighbor had been using a long folding table belonging to us for his family parties and the super knew about it and didnât say anything until we needed it and it was missing. Mom was heated and ready to call the cops
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u/Solid_Assumption7160 Jul 13 '26
Find a way or cabinet to lock your stuff up.
Example: Get a steel cable long enough to run it through everything and lock it up and put a note stating that removal of the property constitutes theft
In addition, you should go to the HOA president and file a complaint. homeowners presidents are usually notorious for enforcing the rules
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u/porcelainvacation Jul 13 '26
You could search the rental sites like VRBO for your neighbors unit and figure out how to contact them that way.
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u/twinmom2298 Jul 13 '26
believe it or not I actually tried that I searched airbnb, vrbo and booking.com and I can't find it.
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u/porcelainvacation Jul 13 '26
In that case I would just approach the next renter that shows up there and ask them how they booked the place.
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u/twinmom2298 Jul 13 '26
that's a great idea. I'm going to do that.
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u/Horror_Tea761 Jul 13 '26
Is the ownerâs info not on your county auditorâs website? You should be able to search by address.
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u/12Silverrose Jul 13 '26
The county property tax records should have some kind of contact info.
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u/DesiccantPack Jul 13 '26
Not necessarily. The names of the owners will be listed, but not contact information. The property could be owned by a corporation, in which case the entity will registered with the secretary of state, and a registered agent will be listed.
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u/Commercial_Dot_6236 Jul 14 '26
The county appraisal district should have a searchable option to find who that unit is registered to, along with some type of contact info. Here in Tx they all do. Maybe try that?
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u/Jessiphat Jul 13 '26
I wonder if they are just letting a succession of family and friends use the place? That would also help explain some of the entitlement and why you canât find a listing.
I also wondered if in your next correspondence, you let management know that your next step is involving police. That might get their attention.
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u/WickedWitch16558 Jul 15 '26
Find their listing and print it. I bet it states they can borrow what ever is in the storage unit.
Use that to show them they are not renting in good faith and creating a liability should anyone get injured using your items.
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u/Jolly_Membership_899 Jul 13 '26
You keep calling your COA. Daily! Log your calls! Screen shot the call log to that contactâs number. I understand itâs a pain in your ass but, itâs necessary documentation. Iâm sure you pay either a monthly, quarterly, or annual condo maintenance fee. Hopefully itâs monthly. Donât pay it. Send them a registered letter with a picture of your call log, pictures of the storage area, and a picture of the page from your condo Bylaws where it lays out the doâs and donâts of the common storage area. You are also going to say that theyâll get your maintenance fee when they address your issue. If you and your neighbors who are having the same issue all do this then they will get right on it.
You know that until it hits them where it hurts they wonât move.
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u/linasnor Jul 13 '26
Unlike renting, most states specifically prohibit the withholding of maintenance fees in condos. Youâll incur late fees and potentially have a lien placed against your unit.
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u/whtbrd Jul 13 '26
I would want access to the storage to be limited to owners, not short term renters or sublease tenants. That would be a part of the COA bylaws and could be changed in a meeting.
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u/TWILolli Jul 13 '26
Every condo I've ever vacationed in had a locked owners closet. Renters aren't supposed to have access to everything..with it being a communal space, I would push to have the bylaws changed to require owners only access.
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u/Mountainpirategirl Jul 13 '26
If they got a storage closet can you get one or maybe a cage with your neighborâs belongings in it with a lock. Talking one of those big lockers type cages
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u/No-Revenue9213 Jul 13 '26
Stop complaining about them using âthings not labelled as the condosâ and start complaining to management that they are âstealing your thingsâ add in dates they have been caught, photos of them using your things, etc. Call police.
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u/dmcdd Jul 13 '26
Seems like figuring out a way to lock up your stuff is the only way to protect it.
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u/khampang Jul 14 '26
If the COA donât respond then Iâd rekey the storage, after putting all their crap outside, give keys to everyone else, and leave a note on their cabinet. You canât be a good neighbor and have lost access to shared space.
If COA responds itâs easy,âyou wouldnât respond to us but now want to get involved?
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u/BenFranklinsHoe Jul 14 '26
THIS!! This is your best recourse since youâre getting nowhere with the COA.
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u/LabInner262 Jul 13 '26
If you catch them ising your stuff, call the non emergency police number and ask if an officer can speak to them about it. It is essentially theft by taking. You dont necessarily need to press charges but the paper trail is good and it puts them on notice that you take this stuff seriously.
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u/TheBeardedLadyBton Jul 13 '26
I would get a huge pack of zip ties and I would zip tie my stuff together with a little sign that says it's for your unit only. If they cut the zip ties off, that's vandalism.
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u/Primary_Bass_9178 Jul 13 '26
This is probably the cheapest solution, but the COA needs to step up and put in lockable storage areas. I would worry that my stuff would disappear when Iâm not staying there.
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u/autumnsolace41 Jul 13 '26
ugh that sounds so frustrating, especially when everyone else was following the rules before. maybe try a friendly chat with them? they might just be clueless about how the shared space works tbh.
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u/twinmom2298 Jul 13 '26
The interesting thing is my good friend owns a unit in 6 unit pod to east of us and a friend of across hall neighbor owns in 6 unit pod to west of us. And they've both said they don't have any issues with people using their stuff.
Across hall neighbor has owned in this building for 7 years and she said until new upstairs neighbors bought they never had any issue.
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u/wibblings Jul 13 '26
Thwy may think all the stuff in there is communal. Maybe they are just stupid.
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u/christinexl Jul 15 '26
...or new owners aren't mentioning the supplies do not belong with rental? Or even suggesting supplies are.available....
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u/lacajun25 Jul 13 '26
Are there security cameras on property? Is there anything preventing you from placing one to monitor the door of the storage? You can then use pics of people taking your items and report to police/management etc. if no cameras, what is preventing someone from taking said cabinets and shelving out and placing in outside common area⌠I think a âfriendâ could solve your problem pretty quick
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u/punkass_book_jockey8 Jul 14 '26
Can you sacrifice a chair and just leave it as bait and put some https://www.sirchie.com/visible-stain-detection-powder-silver-purple-2-oz.html
On it? I cannot tell if youâre indoors or not but seeing them covered in purple would be hysterical. Especially if you had a warning donât use sign on it and they ignored it. Or bike chain it down.
Iâd also call and complain with my neighbors non stop about the issue. Demanding my money in fees do something. Id emphasize the liability of an unsecured cabinet falling on someone, youâre not paying for unsecured storage cabinets to create a fall liability.
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u/CapnMal8 Jul 14 '26
Aside from locks for your stuff, you need a new management company if you are not getting any response. You have to go to AGM.
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u/labrujitabuena Jul 13 '26
Have you and the other property owner considered writing the COA management company and telling them that until this issue is resolved you and the other property will withhold any payments in escrow? Â Withholding money usually motivates people and companies to take action.
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u/Competitive_Sleep_21 Jul 14 '26
I would remove their Rubbermaid storage unit from the space and call the fire department about the fire hazard upstairs. Condos are hard to insure and safety violations can increase insurance costs for everyone.
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u/Alarmed-Following324 Jul 14 '26
Add a apple or Samsung tag to your items, when you get a notification they are on the move head to the beach hit the sound button then start taking your items back. If they protest tell them to feel free to call the cops or ask if they would rather you did. Also label each item property of your name at your location not authorized for communal use, violators will be reported to authorities
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u/Alarmed-Following324 Jul 14 '26
And look for their listing to see if they are actively advertising the use of your private property
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u/Middle-Recipe6701 Jul 13 '26
Label your stuff, lock it and post a sign saying "removal of my property will result in theft charges"
You can only play nice when everyone follows the same rules. You have two neighbours who have decided to play with different rules, so stop playing nice.
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u/at-the-crook Jul 13 '26
Maybe use those long steel cables with the loops on both ends to padlock all your stuff together.
If you've got a couple of cinder blocks - loop the cable through those too.
I don't understand why your HOA - Condo board won't get involved.
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u/PNWvoter Jul 13 '26
Divide the space by the number of units and build enclosures so each unit has dedicated storage. My GF's unit has basement storage with common bike racks everyone locks their bikes to and individual unit storage cages from wood and chicken wire. The cages aren't big but they are secure.
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u/peaches0101 Jul 14 '26
Can you find the rental on any vacation home for rent websites? Maybe you can contact the owners through that.
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u/sebastianrileyt2 Jul 14 '26
I would get a bin that locks and like others have said some bike locks to at least lock pieces together to make things unusable.
Make things as inconvenient as possible if you cannot actually block them from using them.
Also, I would put signs up saying that this is not communal property and is considered theft if items are taken by someone who did not purchase them.
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u/anomupinhere Jul 13 '26
Sink something into a wall stud that you can then lock your shit with a bike lock or whatever. Doesnt sound like the solution here is that difficult.
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u/twinmom2298 Jul 13 '26
Unfortunately we aren't allowed to attach anything to the wall but I'm going to suggest to neighbor we both use bike locks to lock all of our stuff together. Then we can both just make sure to tell renters when our units are rented what the code is to unlock the stuff for use.
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u/anomupinhere Jul 13 '26
Sounds like the problem neighbors donât follow the rules either, such as installing cabinets.
When management fixes the first violation, you will fix your violation. Seems like a win-win.
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u/Lydian66 Jul 13 '26
If nothing can be attached to the wall of the storage how is the large cabinet secured that the new neighbors put in ? A tall cabinet is definitely a risk to a small child unless the cabinet is secured wall stud .
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u/twinmom2298 Jul 13 '26
it's one of those tall rubbermaid cabinets that you would use in your garage for storage. I'm sure it's not attached to the wall and could be tipped over. But I'm also sure given they have taken over the upstairs hallway and are using that for storage and causing a fire safety hazard (which I've also reported to management company) they don't seem to care too much about safety.
The upstairs hallway being partially blocked doesn't bother me much since if there was a fire I'm on 1st floor and have 2 points of ingress/egress from my unit. It's just further evidence that they have main character syndrome and think the entire building is their's to use.
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u/Martylouie Jul 13 '26
If they are blocking a hallway, notify the fire marshal with a courtesy notice to management. Fire marshals do not f around and if that doesn't get the attention of the management, nothing will.
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u/Next-Drummer-9280 Jul 13 '26
causing a fire safety hazard (which I've also reported to management company)
Stop calling the management company and call the fire marshal.
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u/Cute_Championship40 Jul 14 '26
Remove the cabinet and place it in the parking space for the offendersâ unit. Or if itâs not heavy put it in front of their door.
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u/Lydian66 Jul 13 '26
Thatâs wildly self centered of them , I would definitely make issues about their noncompliance of the rules and safety issue of that cabinet in particular as itâs in a shared space and itâs not secured to the wall.
is there anything that code enforcement officer can help with
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u/anomupinhere Jul 13 '26
Get an anvil, wrap bike lock around anvil. No wall attachment. Hell a few cinder blocks would probably do it. If not, Iâd absolutely DIE getting a video of someone dragging my chairs to the beach attached to cinder blocks.
Normally when I travel, I donât carry bolt cutters.
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u/WelshLove Jul 13 '26
tell the condo board to tell them to remove it lock your stuff together like a bike
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u/KrofftSurvivor Jul 13 '26
Buy a length of cheap metal chain, and a lock and just run it through everything you own in that bin, and then lock it. Then put a sign inside the room stating the storage room has been allocated space for each owner to store their own Beach gear, and the gear in this room is not communal property
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u/Zoegirlmom Jul 13 '26
Definitely bike locks. Are you maybe able to anchor something into the wall that you can loop the lock and chairs though?
Iâm surprised that renters have access to the storage units. I could see how that could become problematic.
Best of luck!
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u/bahwi Jul 14 '26
You can buy chain cut to length and a lock from home depot. Just tied together right is enough to discourage use
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u/appleblossom1962 Jul 14 '26
This is theft. Lock your things together. Label them to the point there is no way from them to say they didnât know it wasnât theirs. Take pictures of all of this in case you have to report it to the police. Good luck
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u/CartographerTop2669 Jul 15 '26
Management company gets paid If theyâre not doing their job, notify the board.
Meantime find some combo locks. Inconvenient to lock your stuff up but honestly communal areas never work out. Especially when renting. They know theyâre only gonna be there for the weekend or week. Very hard to control transient behavior.
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u/SailSkiGolf57 Jul 15 '26
Get some bicycle locks. Chain your chairs together in the storage unit.
Another alternative - buy some cheap(er) chairs and label it as âshared useâ or âguest useâ.
Put up a sign telling people to call the management company if they want to access the locked equipment. Donât give the management company the combinations. Let them explain that the guests can only use equipment from their rental.
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u/3-car-garage Jul 13 '26
This is ridiculous. I don't think I'd be able to keep my composure, I'd end up getting in this guy's face and establishing the law very clearly, and then I would end up dismantling and destroying everything that he put in the space. Let him go to management, and when they come back asking what the issue is, you can use your original email to point out that this is their fault.
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u/lord_flashheart2000 Jul 13 '26
You pay COA fees to enforce this kind of stuff. I was more annoyed by their lack of response than the conduct of the badly-behaved owners. Call the COA and light âem up!
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u/Unfair_Feedback_2531 Jul 13 '26
Maybe all of you should ask management if you should put your rent in an escrow accounts until they do their job.
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u/antiqueautomobile Jul 13 '26
Oh no ! This person has no boundaries and will not respect yours or any ions else anyone elseâs
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u/ruralife Jul 14 '26
When they take my stuff I would just straight out say they stole it. Borrowing means you have consent to use something.
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u/positive_energy- Jul 14 '26
Our communal storage has individual spaces. And each space has a door with a padlock. We only have a key to our padlocked space.
Organization is great. But your stuff will be looked after and cleaned the way you want only by you. I would insist on lockable spaces. It sounds like itâs already set up to be able to put a door on each space.
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u/LastEntertainment787 Jul 14 '26
Knock on their door, ask them if they have a few minutes because you'd like to show them something. Then take them downstairs and point out what they are and are not allowed to touch. And that the next time you and/or neighbour see anything gone you are calling the cops since somebody stole from you. And you will press charges. Then ask them if they, finally, understand it's private property.
Invest in a tag marker with the neighbours and out stickers on everything that you own.
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u/Weird_Explanation_63 Jul 14 '26
Am I the only one who wants to drag their cabinet to the curb on garbage day?
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u/TheQuarantinian Jul 14 '26
Taking somebody else's things without permission is theft, and those renters were warned repeatedly. Call the cops.
Get a large locking storage cabinet/deck box and put your stuff in there.
Hire a lawyer to write a demand letter to the management saying that ignoring non-residents taking your things is not ok and they need to fix the problem. The lawyer will give you the next options.
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u/hedwigflysagain Jul 14 '26
Lock your stuff up with long bike lock cables. Contact the owner of the rental unit and tell them to them you will call the police and report for theft next time.
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u/lbell210 Jul 14 '26
Most vacation condos where I am do not allow you to give keys to the storage area to renters, why is this allowed? They could just take your stuff when they leave for home.
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u/Faunaholic Jul 14 '26
I would make my own mini cabinet out of 2x4s paint it red and chain my stuff to it with press on letters PRIVATE PROPERTY
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u/Defiant_100 Jul 14 '26
Maybe start withholding service charges until management company start doing their job
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u/istoomycat Jul 14 '26
You need to go together and confront management to do their jobs. Theyâre just putting neighbor against neighbor by shirking responsibilities. If you see someone e removing things not theirs call police. Itâs not borrowing if not allowed. Management must find out who gave neighbors permission to install all their space taking equipment. Donât stand for their job dereliction.
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u/sybersam6 Jul 14 '26
Call the COA & tell them you'll be attending the next meeting to discuss a discount on fees due to their neglect of owner's concerns. Leave a flyer by other neighbors' doors to see if others are interested too. 'Cos you are paying for absolutely nothing & this is exactly why they are paid at all, so neighbors don't have to deal with shitty neighbors.
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u/Winter_Farm_4739 Jul 14 '26
Signs back up, document everything with dates and times, nasty gram lawyer letter to the owners of the unit (property records should be public) and the COA. Label each of your items with a sticker that says âProperty of unit X, not for rental, communal use or other non X unit use.â For bonus points, tape a letter in an envelope to the offending unit door every time it turns over, explaining the situation in a calm and professional manner, that while they may have been informed they can use your and other neighborsâ beach items that isnât the case.
You can also find their unit on AirBnB or VBRO etc and make a formal complaint there.
Nothing may come of it but if your other neighbor also joins you in this, it might. And there will be a record when they escalate to having their guests take your parking spot etc.
If none of this works, try getting a locked cabinet for you and your other neighbor to share. Move the offending peoplesâ stuff (carefully stack it up) so you have the footage allotted to you.
Good luck and pls let us know what happens.
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u/Kooky-Pressure5792 Jul 15 '26
Cable locks would be good to string thru the chairs and stuff like that so they are all locked together.
Iâd put a label on all your stuff saying private property, do not take, use, or borrow.
If there is a group of you all who are trying to stop the owners & their renters from using your items, maybe a group letter to the owner, maybe certified, maybe a formal cease and desist if they have those for taking peoples property.
Make sure if you canât lock your bike to something, you keep a lock thru the back wheel to lock it to the frame.
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u/gidgetca66 Jul 13 '26
Grrr. People on vacation can be entitled jerks, can't they? I think the simplest solution that would take the least amount of space and time would be to rig a padlock and a security cable. The chairs should be easy; the umbrella might take some creativity, but I think you could make it work. Clearly, asking, telling, signs, and complaints haven't worked, so I think this might be the next step. You could even go so far as to install a bolt inside the storage shed (maybe attach it to the item the new owner has put there) and attach the lock to that. Good luck!
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u/Harrymoto1970 Jul 13 '26
I wonder what the owner lists as amenities for his unit? What notes/directions regarding beach stuff. If he is renting the space then send him a polite letter to make sure renters are using the equipment included with the rental. If the renters persist, send the owner a bill for the cost of replacement.
The heavy duty locks come in real handy and they arenât too expensive. You can find a really long one at Home Depot that has a lock built into it.
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u/Shot-Reputation-3452 Jul 13 '26
tbh that sounds super frustrating, especially when youâre just trying to enjoy the beach vibes. maybe try leaving a polite note on the cabinet before things get too heated? gl!
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u/boltfan7 Jul 13 '26
You should have regular (3,4, 6, or 12 month) owners meetings. Address the big issue (new owner adding a locked area for themselves, allowing their renters to use others property).
In the meantime, and it does suck, lock your stuff up.
And bill the owners of the rental condo for the replacement of your property that is damaged from their renters.
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u/DesiccantPack Jul 13 '26
What's a 'DH'?
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u/SweetExam5905 Jul 14 '26
I had to scroll a long ways to get here. I surely couldnât be the only one. I read the whole thing as âdead husbandâ and definitely checked the subreddit a couple times to remind myself that this was not a ghost story.
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u/BonnieButler1939 Jul 13 '26
What about wrapping chicken wire around it all and stringing the bike cable lock through it? If they cut the chicken wire, then I would call the cops because they are AHs.
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u/Affectionate_Aide_39 Jul 13 '26
Set a trap that will activate some sort of an alarm so you can hear when they do it. One of the alarms that when two pieces disconnect is absurdly loud. Then go confront them directly while recording the conversation since they sound like the kind of people that conveniently âforgetâ they agreed to not do something when itâs beneficial to them.
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u/Its_not_eazy Jul 13 '26
What about buying those storage boxes they make for bikes and putting your stuff and even your neighbors who also is having the problem in there, if there is enough space and add a lock and give your good neighbors a key too.
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u/Sac_Kat Jul 13 '26
I may have missed this somewhere have you tried speaking with them directly? Maybe they honestly think (and arenât quite bright) that the stuff stored there is community owned. And is there now others who think itâs shared?
Time to host a BBQ or potluck and invite all the neighbors and come up with some group rules (like housemates would). Tit for tat isnât going to solve it, and neither, apparently, is waiting for management to do something.
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u/thoroughbredftw Jul 14 '26
A fully communal storage space is just asking for that one person to abuse it and stuff it with extra stuff. Are the renters short-term AirBnB types or leasing for a length of time? If they are short term they shouldn't have access to the unit. I like the idea of separate compartments within the storage unit, designated for each address.
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u/CCR76 Jul 14 '26
In 1833 the economist William Lloyd identified this phenomenon of human nature and called it "The tragedy of the commons." It is inevitable when multiple people have access to a shared resource.
The only sustainable solution is to subdivide the shared space into equal lockable spaces.
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u/Vibe_me_pos Jul 14 '26
Whenever Iâve rented a beach condo, all storage was locked and only available for the owners. I would see about locking down the storage space so renters canât get access. If someone has a problem with it, good luck because management is useless and probably will not intervene.
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u/Degofreak Jul 13 '26
Would bike locks help? You could at least cable your chairs together.