Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Hi, I live in a town home (3 unit building) in California. In October 2014, my garage door was damaged by a neighbors car. After a month, the door was replaced by me. I got the insurance amount for the garage door, and for painting it brown (which is a must for all garage doors in our community), but didn't proceed with the painting. Around 5 months back, I got a letter from our maintenance company to paint it brown. I talked to the maintenance company manager and got time till March 2016 to paint it, as painting in cold weather wasn't advisable. Due to continued cold weather, I didn't paint it till now. Around 5 days back, I found that someone had written "PAINT ME" with permenant marker on my garage door. I feel that this was done by someone based on directions from the maintenance company, or the HOA board. Today, a person from the maintence company came and informed that if the painting work is not done by May 15, they would do the painting without my permission and add the amount to my maintence bill. I have the following queries.

a) does the maintence company have any right to write the words "PAINT ME" on my garage door? Does this not amount to vandalism?

b) do you think there is any merit in filing a police complaint for vandalism in this case?


Asked on 5/05/16, 8:38 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

a) 1. You have no proof. "I feel" is irrelevant. 2. If they have the right to control the exterior (as is the case of most town home developments) it's their property not yours;so they can write what they want on it.

b) 1. see #1 above. 2. No.

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Answered on 5/06/16, 9:07 am


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