When Eileen Jones and her husband purchased their home in 2002 in Villa De La Vista West, The Villages had a very different vibe.
In the more than two decades since she has been living in her patio villa, the properties around her have been gobbled up by investors who are using them as rentals.
Jones is coping with the typical rental neighbor problems, including trash, noise and Bad Parking.
Some problems are harder to solve, like trash, left behind by those who don’t know, or don’t care, about the rules. Jones said the renters are often leaving their garbage on her side of the property line.
“My neighbors think I am drinking a hell of a lot of beer,” Jones joked.
On the other hand, a recent rule change by the Community Development District 1 Board of Supervisors has had a positive impact on the parking problem at her villa community. The new rule has empowered CDD 1 to tow vehicles which are violating parking rules.
Jones pointed out that the new towing rule has taken the burden off the shoulders of the homeowners.
“We don’t have to go talk to the renters anymore. Now, we can call Community Standards and they will take care of it,” she said.
This past week, Community Development District 8 was the most recent CDD to embrace the new towing powers in villas.
The following districts have also beefed up their towing powers:
- Middleton Community Development District -A
- Brownwood Community Development District
- Sumter Landing Community Development District
- Village Center Community Development District
- District 2
- District 3
- District 4