Housing Code Violations

[ConcernedCitizen17]

Renting a property with a shared driveway to another property. The other property is not owned by our LL. It was owned by a nice couple. The house was run down and not habitable. They allowed us full access ti the drive. They were trying to sell the property for very cheap. One day a man in a cabbed truck came speeding into the drive, got out, and kicked in the side door of the neighbor's garage. He appeared intoxicated. We called the police fearing he was dangerous and stealing from them. Through this incident he claimed to be the new owner of the property. No paperwork to prove this. The police did ID him or ask for evidence showing that he was the new legal owner. The man started living in his truck in the driveway a few days after that. Sitting on the tailgate of his truck with no shirt drinking beer at all hours day and night in plain view from our back porch and kitchen windows. (We were obviously upset and did not want our kids seeing this) He also started unloading truckloads of wooden pallets for fire wood. He burned a large fire under the tree near the house. There were at least 3 or more times the life and fire department came to have him extinguish the flames. The house was then condemned by the city. As the weather started ti get colder here had a wood burner delivered in the garage. He tore down the notice on the house and had electricity re ran and is now using a cord from the house to the garage. The city came back and put up more notices that condemn the house, garage, and property. We were told by the housing inspector to notify police if he is inside the garage after 9pm. But both times we have done so they come talk to him to "check on him" again they do not ID him or ask him to leave. We don't feel that the notice is being enforced. What else can we do? This man is a menace to the whole neighborhood. He is constantly drinking and cursing and with his heating source we fear he may even start a fire. He still hasn't proved that he owns the property so technically I believe he's squatting on a condemned property.

 

[LdiJ]

Renting a property with a shared driveway to another property. The other property is not owned by our LL. It was owned by a nice couple. The house was run down and not habitable. They allowed us full access ti the drive. They were trying to sell the property for very cheap. One day a man in a cabbed truck came speeding into the drive, got out, and kicked in the side door of the neighbor's garage. He appeared intoxicated. We called the police fearing he was dangerous and stealing from them. Through this incident he claimed to be the new owner of the property. No paperwork to prove this. The police did ID him or ask for evidence showing that he was the new legal owner. The man started living in his truck in the driveway a few days after that. Sitting on the tailgate of his truck with no shirt drinking beer at all hours day and night in plain view from our back porch and kitchen windows. (We were obviously upset and did not want our kids seeing this) He also started unloading truckloads of wooden pallets for fire wood. He burned a large fire under the tree near the house. There were at least 3 or more times the life and fire department came to have him extinguish the flames. The house was then condemned by the city. As the weather started ti get colder here had a wood burner delivered in the garage. He tore down the notice on the house and had electricity re ran and is now using a cord from the house to the garage. The city came back and put up more notices that condemn the house, garage, and property. We were told by the housing inspector to notify police if he is inside the garage after 9pm. But both times we have done so they come talk to him to "check on him" again they do not ID him or ask him to leave. We don't feel that the notice is being enforced. What else can we do? This man is a menace to the whole neighborhood. He is constantly drinking and cursing and with his heating source we fear he may even start a fire. He still hasn't proved that he owns the property so technically I believe he's squatting on a condemned property.

There may not be much that you can do if you cannot convince the authorities to do something about him. You could however check the property tax rolls in your area to see who is showing as the legal owner of the property, and try to contact them and get them involved.

 

[Just Blue]

There may not be much that you can do if you cannot convince the authorities to do something about him. You could however check the property tax rolls in your area to see who is showing as the legal owner of the property, and try to contact them and get them involved.

To add to the above post...You might also move when your lease is done if the guy does own the property. Curious though...Did you ask the nice (old?) owners if they sold the property? Do you have a way to contact them?

 

[FarmerJ]

If the county property tax desk doesnt show a sale -transfer of the property then complain to the mayors office and your city council people about the lack of action to stop what appears to be someone intent on squatting - living in a structure that is not designed to be lived in ( garage )

 

[xylene]

Give him alcohol and watch him destroy himself.

 

[Just Blue]

Give him alcohol and watch him destroy himself.

Not one of your more intelligent postings Xy.

 

[TigerD]

What US state is this?
cabbed truck .... life and fire department .... Doesn't sound like the US.

 

[ConcernedCitizen17]

There may not be much that you can do if you cannot convince the authorities to do something about him. You could however check the property tax rolls in your area to see who is showing as the legal owner of the property, and try to contact them and get them involved.

Thank you for attempting to help. However, we know the legal owners names. The city housing department has been trying to contact them for weeks with no luck.

 

[ConcernedCitizen17]

Give him alcohol and watch him destroy himself.

I have bill's to pay I'm not going to contribute to the problem. Nor do I want myself let alone my children to bare witness to that.

 

[ConcernedCitizen17]

What US state is this?
cabbed truck .... life and fire department .... Doesn't sound like the US.

This is in US Ohio ...

 

[ConcernedCitizen17]

If the county property tax desk doesnt show a sale -transfer of the property then complain to the mayors office and your city council people about the lack of action to stop what appears to be someone intent on squatting - living in a structure that is not designed to be lived in ( garage )

Thank you, we might have to try that.