Neighbor dispute- New home in my BY is blocking my satellite

herr_oberst · 05-07-2013, 04:50 PM

Someone bought the house behind mine and has added 2 stories to it. My satellite dish no longer can see a satellite.

Has anyone ever had to deal with an issue like this, or can anyone offer a suggestion on how to proceed?

I called him and he basically said tough ****, not his problem - and then he threatened to sue me, because I hinted that I can make selling his house a tough sell. (I was thinking of turning my back yard into a junk heap, but I never said anything like that. He just got instantly defensive.) I'm at a loss. Am I going to need to lawyer up?

herr_oberst · 05-07-2013, 04:50 PM

lendaddy · 05-07-2013, 04:54 PM

??? With all due respect, how is this his problem? Unless he is violating code, well... tough toenails.

Sink a pole and mount your dish atop it for a functional solution.

stomachmonkey · 05-07-2013, 04:56 PM

Hmm, did you know what he was up to before he started?

I ask because in a lot of locales getting something like permitted involves neighbor sign off which makes one wonder if he actually has the proper permits.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

This does not bode well for future relations with that neighbor. He sounds like a total jerk.

Best to consult the satellite provider and see if their installers have a stand... or maybe there's a way to attach to a chimney?

If it gets into a war, you'll both lose. I had a neighbor who was so angry with the Jewish guy who lived next door that he had a huge swastika laid into his driveway pavers. In situations like that, only the lawyers win.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Call the county and see if it is permitted correctly. If it is, build a tall pole, if it is not, unleash the Kraken

ossiblue · 05-07-2013, 05:00 PM

You may wish to check with the city as this may fall into the same category as blocking a solar collector. If it's possible for you to move your antenna and get reception, then that's probably what you'll have to do. On the other hand, if it is now impossible for you to receive a signal due to the construction, that's something the city may deal with or may need to deal with in the future when doing plan checking. It can't hurt to go to the planning department and ask a few questions and see if there is a policy regarding blocking reception.

strupgolf · 05-07-2013, 05:08 PM

Sorry about you luck. It's not his task to make your TV work. What if a tree grew up really fast and did the same thing. Come on my friend, find a solution on you own.

dad911 · 05-07-2013, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lendaddy

??? With all due respect, how is this his problem? Unless he is violating code, well... tough toenails.

Sink a pole and mount your dish atop it for a functional solution.

Yup. He should be able to build ono his lot, as long as to code.

NIMBY?

Raise the dish or get cable.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Yes, Call the city, not the county - they will have stricter laws.

If you have to install a pole you can also run a Jolly Roger flag up that is pointed towards the guy's house. Stick it as close as possible to his house.

herr_oberst · 05-07-2013, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lendaddy

??? With all due respect, how is this his problem? Unless he is violating code, well... tough toenails.

It's not his problem, I get that; he's a contractor, he bought this tiny house, took it down to the foundation and built a battleship in my back yard. He plans to try and sell it for 800plus thousand. He bought it for 280, this is a neighborhood of 400, 450k homes. When I called to ask if he would be willing to help me out he basically told me to pound sand, then got more and more angry, asking why he thought he should even be having the conversation. He's a young guy in his mid 30's and Portland has suddenly become a housing boom town again.

My point is, do I have any recourse at all here, or do developers and contractors have all the sway in disputes like this?

Baz · Baz's Garage

If I were your neighbor Herr Oberst - I would find a way to help you.

Your problems are my problems, brother.

lendaddy · 05-07-2013, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

It's not his problem, I get that; he's a contractor, he bought this tiny house, took it down to the foundation and built a battleship in my back yard. He plans to try and sell it for 800plus thousand. He bought it for 280, this is a neighborhood of 400, 450k homes. When I called to ask if he would be willing to help me out he basically told me to pound sand, then got more and more angry, asking why he thought he should even be having the conversation. He's a young guy in his mid 30's and Portland has suddenly become a housing boom town again.

My point is, do I have any recourse at all here, or do developers and contractors have all the sway in disputes like this?

Fair enough, in that regard the others have given you good advice. Check with your locality to see if he is in violation of "anything". If not you're S.O.L. but who knows he may have cut a corner that will bite him in the ass.

herr_oberst · 05-07-2013, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strupgolf

Come on my friend, find a solution on you own.

Seriously, I just want a round table here. I know he's probably got the deck stacked against me, but I'd like to hear the trust give out some pointers or advice. So far, there have been a lot of good pointers. Thanks

herr_oberst · 05-07-2013, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baz

If I were your neighbor Herr Oberst - I would find a way to help you.

Your problems are my problems, brother.

Thanks, buddy! I appreciate that!

Baz · Baz's Garage

Karma is a great equalizer.

When I bought my home I had a pretty good view of the Intercoastal Waterway - even though I was not waterfront. My home sits up high on a dune ridge and were 2 empty lots between me and waterway. After a few years of wonderful unobstructed view....this "carpetbagger" from up north came here and bought the lot on the water and proceeded to build the largest (and most ugly) structure (I can't justify calling it a house) he could with the sole intention of re-selling it for a profit.

The problem is our neighborhood has a particular architectural feel to it - we are on a barrier island and the homes here (with the exception of his monstrosity) blend in with the environment.

He even went through 3 different architects because he was such a douche.

Long story short he got cancer and died a few years after his house was built.

I would never wish cancer on anyone. But I look at this as a karma event. But then again I always seem to categorize things in terms of karma....

Zeke · 05-07-2013, 05:21 PM

You have to look at this way, if it is OK for that house to be built where it is, it can and will be built. The builder has to build it the way he said he would according to the plans filed. What I'm surprised about is that there was no notification or hearing on this. When ever one property is going to have an impact on another, there is usually some consideration in that regard.

Mostly, you will see this situation when the new structure impacts a view or sunlight. Since dishes face somewhat north, I guess sunlight is not a problem. Doesn't sound like you ever had a view of anything but the northern sky.

I think I'd just stand down and let the satellite company deal with it.

Another thing that strikes me is that you say he is adding 2 stories. That makes it a 3 story house. Very unusual to see 3 story houses. How many other 3 story house are there in the neighborhood? I'd like to see the planning commission's meeting notes.

john70t · 05-07-2013, 05:22 PM

The city has already approved plans(work permit posted on front), and it would be expensive to go the lawyer route to stop that huge boulder from rolling downhill...."air rights" claim for loss of your property values, stop work order, defending against countersuit for loss and expenses, etc.

You could possibly small-claim any expense for a pole relocation.

(btw, I think he forgot flashing at the roof/wall transition and might get a leak next spring

)

Zeke · 05-07-2013, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john70t

(btw, I think he forgot flashing at the roof/wall transition and might get a leak next spring

)

Look again. You can't even see the bottom of the openings much less where the wall intersects the existing roof.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by john70t

The city has already approved plans(work permit posted on front), and it would be expensive to go the lawyer route to stop that huge boulder from rolling downhill...."air rights" claim for loss of your property values, stop work order, defending against countersuit for loss and expenses, etc.

You could possibly small-claim any expense for a pole relocation.

(btw, I think he forgot flashing at the roof/wall transition and might get a leak next spring

)

probably - but you can scrutinize to see if the bldg. dept. missed anything - I would not be at all surprised if they failed to check on this sort of blocking

here, the dept. to contact would be land use - dunno re PDX

you can certainly make the guy's life miserable as he tries to sell it... but