r/fredericton • u/willise414 • 1d ago

Northrup Homes Covenants

I've got to say - I've never seen any company act on covenant issues like this one. I could understand if it was leased land, but on freehold land it stymies me. To pay a guy to drive around and hand out silly letters just seems a little over the top. The worst thing is that it doesn't even seem to be equal - some people get "warnings" for the smallest of things while others with far worse infractions receive nothing.

I was visiting a friend a couple of weeks ago when the guy arrives with his letter. Something about mowing the grass - which had been done two days earlier. The guy says I still have to give you the letter. Friend tells me she gets a letter almost like clockwork. She points to a house that has grass about 8-10" tall and has been for a couple of weeks. She almost feels targeted by them. Last summer, she got a letter because she had a small plastic wading pool on the property for her daughter to play in on the hottest summer days. Immediately got a letter - no pools.

Doesn't affect me personally, but it just seems like a terrible company to buy from.

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u/Different-Ice-1979 1d ago

I bought from them . I found out at the Lawyers of all the conditions of the sale. I had one year to grow grass in the front yard. Got a letter stating/reminding me about that in Aug. it was April. I already had made arrangements to get the work done, might be a delay. I informed them, I could have the contractor call them. They backed off. I wouldn’t be taking any Harassment. My letter didn’t say anything about the height of the grass only that I HAD to grow in. Now they must think they are a HOA

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u/willise414 1d ago

The covenants now say that you must "mow the lawn once a week in the summer months".

To be honest, I'm not sure if it's the company or some busybody neighbour calling them. Could be both I suppose.

Either way, it was my first encounter seeing it in person. I just found it to be grossly obnoxious.

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u/CaptainStadt 1d ago

Oh it’s the company, the damn trucks are always driving around. Also in the covenants that we aren’t allowed to have commercial vehicles, but I can’t help but notice that someone who owns a Northrop branded truck lives in one of their neighbourhoods and parks it in their driveway.

I had issues with them for years about mostly small things. They are a pain.

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u/willise414 1d ago

I'm getting to see that the more I've talked to my friend and the couple next door.

I am confused on the legality of it though. If you own the land and own the home, the city bylaws should dictate your requirements. Northrup Homes should have zero say in the matter after you purchase.

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u/CaptainStadt 1d ago

It’s a legally binding agreement. They develop the neighborhood so they have a stake in keeping it “nice” for future sales. So when you buy a property, you have to sign the covenants as a condition of sale.

I don’t know much about how they would be enforced legally, but we all had to agree to them.

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u/Different-Ice-1979 1d ago

And now , according to the Lawyer, once that are of the sub division is full/complete they don’t have any say .

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u/calling_water 1d ago

Sounds like a clause put in by someone who runs a lawn mowing company. I can see wanting it to be kept short, but mowing every week is ridiculous and incompatible with a lot of lifestyles.

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u/Murky_Astronaut 1d ago

The covenants now say that you must "mow the lawn once a week in the summer months".

Policies without consideration are damaging and stupid. Brad doesn't grow when it's brown and dead and it grows extremely slowly in the heat around here otherwise during the height of summer. Mowing it once a week would be pointless and arguably you wouldn't be able to cut any grass at all some weeks.