19 May 2012
The warm weather of summer means that soon
our sliding glass doors and windows will be wide open to let in the wonderful
summer breezes and the not so wonderful sounds of summer. Neighbors will be
planning barbecues and parties with friends. Patios and balconies are likely to
be in full summer use. As we enjoy the summer months, please be aware that your
neighbors are only a few feet away and may not want to share the verbal
enthusiasm of your activities.
Community living in a “common interest development” requires extra awareness
and consideration of your neighbor’s right to a peaceful environment. Loud talking
on your patio or balcony, a barking dog, late-night parties or loud music is a major annoyance to your neighbors and is against the rules of our homeowner’s association. However, every once in a while, there will be a resident that continues to ignore the rules and is just plain inconsiderate of his or her neighbors.
While the board can usually assist a homeowner in trying to find a solution to a “neighbor problem,” it is basically the homeowner’s responsibility to directly address the issue. The first step should be discussing the issue with your offending neighbor in a
civil and respectful manner, either verbally or in writing.
If that doesn't work, Redondo Beach has a South Bay Center for Dispute Resolution which has proven effective for resolving issues between neighbors. Trained mediators will meet with both parties in an attempt to reach a fair and effective solution to your specific problem. The
Center’s services are available at no cost to all Redondo residents and tenants.
The Center can be contacted at 310-376-7007 or visit their website at www.sbcdr.net
We hope that the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” would apply and that all neighbor disputes could settled amicably. While those words appear in the Bible, they actually have been with us for over 4000 years. There doesn't seem to be any
reason to ignor them now.