Issues with my condo board

[Poison]

So thought id vent and see if there has been anyone in a similar situation or know the bylaws with townhouse units and if there is any solution/compromise to this.

My story goes like this, i enjoy satellite tv, i live in a townhouse on the end unit, i put up a satellite on the end of my unit and had it approved a year or two ago, now because i need to aim it in a different direction i needed to put up another one as the first one couldnt be aimed that way it was setup.

Had to put it on the bedroom roof of the neighbours, not the main roof as the bedroom one juts out and is perfect to put it on, went over and asked them and they were fine with this.
Snoopy condo president eventually saw it, reported it to the management company and now i have a letter to take it down quoting bylaws (eyesore etc) and that i have to pay for the roof repair.

So ya i didnt get board approval for this one but thought asking my neightbour would be fine, anyone have any experience with this and whether i have any leyway in keeping it up or if they have to work with me to come to a suitable compromise?

I dont see because i hate cable that i have to go without tv because i cant mount a dish.

Any lawyers or people with experience have any suggestions for me that could keep the dish up or find a good compromise? Thanks guys

[nik-]

I think the solution lies in your username

[BlackArcher101]

Condo board has final say. They don't have to agree with any sort of compromise.

[onetwo_threefour]

You are, as we say in the legal biz, fu**erboo'd.(actually we don't say that, but I like to) Basically, condo boards can be like dictators within the bounds of the by-law. If the by-laws say you can't attach anything to the exterior of the building without approval, then you can't. If you do then you are liable for the repair costs.

Your best bet may be to approach the board members informally and ask for suggestions to deal with the problem. If you can build up a rapport and consensus, it may not be hard to come to a compromise.

[Locke]

Teach those slimy fascists a lesson and attach an enormous dildo to your roof.

[onetwo_threefour]

Originally Posted by fotze

How are you going to convince captain crunch to climb on the roof?

Tell him that you're up there with your high heels on? ;P

[The Ditch]

I absolutely hate HOAs with every ounce of my body. I was living in one where the board was all seniors who would schedule votes, meetings and whatnot during business hours way down south (condos were in the NW) so that they could control everything as most normal people worked during the day. One of the hot issues was satellite dishes, I found out that in the States that legally they can't stop you from putting up a dish because of a FCC ruling and fair business practices. I was probably going to murder the board if I didn't get out of there.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Poison

My story goes like this, i enjoy satellite tv, i live in a townhouse on the end unit, i put up a satellite on the end of my unit and had it approved a year or two ago, now because i need to aim it in a different direction i needed to put up another one as the first one couldnt be aimed that way the way it was setup.

Just wondering. why the different direction? satellite's don't move.
(edit) maybe your talking "free-to-air" which if thats the case don't bother.

Also, can your balcony work? you can hide the dish under some plastic garbage cans.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

I absolutely hate HOAs with every ounce of my body. I was living in one where the board was all seniors who would schedule votes, meetings and whatnot during business hours way down south (condos were in the NW) so that they could control everything as most normal people worked during the day. One of the hot issues was satellite dishes, I found out that in the States that legally they can't stop you from putting up a dish because of a FCC ruling and fair business practices. I was probably going to murder the board if I didn't get out of there.

I think if this was brought to court in Canada you would see the same result, a buddy of mine threatened to do so and the condo board backed down.

[Poison]

Originally Posted by T@T

Just wondering. why the different direction? satellite's don't move.
(edit) maybe your talking "free-to-air" which if thats the case don't bother.

Also, can your balcony work? you can hide the dish under some plastic garbage cans.

Thats the thing i dont have a balcony to put it on, ok so if im resigned to taking it down my question is this.
Can they have any issue with anything i do in my backyard?
Im really feeling like being a complete a$$ if they dont want to compromise and putting up the ugliest post in the middle of it and mounting my dish to that, do the bylaws stretch to my backyard????

I havent asked yet but i was thinking about putting it on the fence as well, which really should not be an issue as it is very old and scheduled to be replaced in the spring next year, but i have the feeling they are just going to reject anything i want to compromise on thus the backyard question.

[troutman]

Run for president of the condo board.

[Poison]

Ya but being the president doesnt exclude you from the bylaws.
This is only an issue because of one owner that has nothing better to do but snoop around and look for things to complain about.
Everyone other person ive talked to has no problem with it.

[fredr123]

Buy all the board members tip calculators to get in their good books.

[mykalberta]

When I went to school in Edmonton, I had a similar problem when I rented a condo downtown.

My solution was to comb through those nazii documents and have one of my buddies in law school look at them as well, I constructed a stand for the dish which I placed on the balcony.

The board complained but since it didnt attach to any public property I was able to get a way with it. They tried to amend the bylaws but by then I was able to keep it because of some grandfathering law. Initially my landlord was miffed at me for this but by the end he was fighting for me.

My current condo board are also nazii mofos but at the moment, until the magical Pigeon net goes up (which I have, just waiting to put it up) they have no problems with me or me with them.

[Poison]

Thats basically what i want to know, if they wont compromise with me whether i can mount a huge post in my backyard and mount the dish to that, as that isnt common property.

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

My current condo board are also nazii mofos but at the moment, until the magical Pigeon net goes up (which I have, just waiting to put it up) they have no problems with me or me with them.

explain said pigeon net?

[Poison]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

explain said pigeon net?

Satellite dish.....i think.....

[mykalberta]

No, its actually a pigeon net (not to capture them, althought I am sure I could sell them at the many non North American restraunts within walking distance )

Durring the summers I have a severe pigeon infestation problem on my balcony, they crap all over my awesome weber bbq, make nests, etc.

I asked the condo mtce guy to remove the nest, both years he refused as he said it would be in humane to kill the birds. 1 year I went out when it was raining and threw the balcony onto a parked car below. This last year the mother or mothers would swoop at me, one actually clipped my head with her wing. So I paid an exterminator to remove it.

That was the last straw. I purchased this net from the states over the summer they use for gardening to keep out birds and the like and I will be putting it around my balcony. I have kind of a corner unit so Its relatively easy to isntall. I wont be attaching anything to the condo specifically (basically plastic tie to wood boards that are plastic tied to my balcony but I am expecting to go to the mattresses with the board over it as I made a half suggestion about it at our last meeting and was as they say shot down in flames over it.

I spoke with a corporate lawyer where I work, he said that I should be on good ground putting it up as the condo board's representative (mtce guy) refused to remove the nest, and sicne the City to consider pigeons to be pests and can be killed, and that the balcony is common property its up to the condo board to deal with it. They havent so I am.

No pigeon has been at my place since the last nest was removed so maybe they know not to frack with me, but if they do the net goming up. Its now a religion, when I get home, i shower, change, and check my balcony for pigeons.

[csnarpy]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

No, its actually a pigeon net (not to capture them, althought I am sure I could sell them at the many non North American restraunts within walking distance )

Durring the summers I have a severe pigeon infestation problem on my balcony, they crap all over my awesome weber bbq, make nests, etc.

I asked the condo mtce guy to remove the nest, both years he refused as he said it would be in humane to kill the birds. 1 year I went out when it was raining and threw the balcony onto a parked car below. This last year the mother or mothers would swoop at me, one actually clipped my head with her wing. So I paid an exterminator to remove it.

I just want to know how you threw the balcony on the car?
also, the owner of that car must be pissed for sure!

(runs away....!)

[Dion]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

I absolutely hate HOAs with every ounce of my body. I was living in one where the board was all seniors who would schedule votes, meetings and whatnot during business hours way down south (condos were in the NW) so that they could control everything as most normal people worked during the day. One of the hot issues was satellite dishes, I found out that in the States that legally they can't stop you from putting up a dish because of a FCC ruling and fair business practices. I was probably going to murder the board if I didn't get out of there.

Sorry to hear that.

I live on a street where all the homes are under a HOA. Fees are under $100 a month and we get our lawns cut in the summer and snow removed in the winter. I have nothing but good things to say about our board and how things are run. In fact every September we get together as a group and have a corn roast and BBQ.