Where does the back yard start?

[Andrea]

I'd appreciate some feedback. I've lived in 2 mobile homes in two parks and always understood that one's "back yard" extends only to the far edge of the bottom step of one's back door steps. My young neighbors moved in 4 days ago and announced yesterday that they plan to build a huge deck at his back steps. This is my front yard! He's already got the biggest front deck in the 300 unit park.

I own the home but pay rent for the land but there is no lease. I did get verbal assurance from management before moving in 15 months ago that the front yard is mine and I am responsible for the upkeep of the yard and fence at the back end of both our homes. As did the previous owner, I mow the lawn, care for the garden, put in path lights and pay the electricity to keep the yard fully lighted for safety all night.

I'm already annoyed with his loud music; my work at home requires quiet to think. Now I'm going to have my front yard confiscated too? I guess the park owners have the right to do whatever they want. Can anyone tell me what's common in parks so I know what to expect?
Here's a photo showing his back steps and my front door: http://www.CrisisBrainstorm.com/myfrontyard.jpg Thanks,

Andrea

[Andrea]

Sorry, I'm just a little stressed.

[David Oxhandler]

In the photo it looks like the neighbors additions occupy less than half the open space between the homes at this time. It seems like you need to ask the community manager to define a line. We operate a small community in Florida and this is NOT an unusual request.

[Andrea]

I sure do appreciate your response. The neighbor I speak of has the white resin steps at the back door of his home in the very far left centre of the photo. He has no additions on his home. My front door is on the right. I was verbally told by the previous owners of both homes and management before I closed that my front lawn extended to the white steps and along a line parallel to the neighbors home about 4-5 from the home. (I've been mowing that strip as well so it all looks consistent.)

The only addition you see is a shed on the other side of the brown fence which belongs to a neighbour on the street behind us. The brown fence was put in by my previous owner and I'm required by management to keep it painted and in good repair.

Sorry if I sound dumb. I actually studied alternative forms of housing and housing design in college 30 years ago, but I've lived outside of the US for decades and had never been in a manufactured home until I bought one 3 years ago! People in my small community are quite uncommunicative with newcomers so I look to you for some guidance on what is common in this country.

Is it normal for the manager to change boundaries at whim without telling the tenant who pays for it? Or isn't there some sort of "squatter's" rights... the one who has been taking care of the property gets to inhabit it. Do you change boundaries at whim in your community?

Thanks again,

Andrea

[J. Moore]

Depending on the state you are in and the type of community and who owns it you have/don't have several options.

If the manager has and can give you a map with the site size defined then you should be able to layout your homesite according to those demensions. The community manager should do this for you. It is not an uncommon request.

Approach the manager with your request and tell him you are trying to avoid conflict with the new neighbor. You seem to be keeping your homesite up and you should get a response and action from management.

Good Luck

[Andrea]

The problem is my uncommunicative manager who rarely acknowledges phone call requests or written requests from tenants. I fully expect this request will be ignored like others more serious. (To their credit they do maintain the appearance and services in the community very well.) My objective in posting here was to arm myself with knowledge of what is common practice in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.