Comments on: Whose Responsibility is the Foreclosed House Next Door?

By: Sara

Sara — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:42:59 +0000

Thanks Greg for the advice and for documenting your ordeal online. It will help other homeowners who find themselves next door to or down the street from someone who decides to leave garbage and debris when their house is foreclosed. I was told to report it as illegal dumping. Not sure if the city will do anything about it but I did leave a message and will document everything. Our cul de sac is pretty stable, other than this one house, and I really hope that it remains that way because it will not be pleasant to deal with this for months and months. Thanks again for your advice and your blog.

By: Greg Swan

Greg Swan — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:50:50 +0000

Unless your city has a vacant property registration process, I would guess you’re looking at months before anything happens on that house — probably longer.

By the time the bank files the foreclosure paperwork, hires a property management company, they issue a work order recommendation to the bank to clean up the garbage, the bank approves and the property management company comes out, you’re looking at even longer. In our case detailed above, that process took six (6!) months.

In my experience, your best bet is to slowly siphon off the trash into your own bins. That is incredibly lame, but it’s what I would do if I had to do this again. Also, I’d recommend keeping tracks of dates and names today in case it turns into a bigger deal than you expected. Best of luck!

By: Sara

Sara — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:53:50 +0000

Wow!!! I found your story when I was researching how to get rid of trash left behind by homeowners when they have to vacant their foreclosed home. Neighbors up the street from us abandoned their house a week ago and left three large containers of trash next to their house. I wanted to find out how to get rid of it and was told by the garbage company that I had to call the bank that owns the house. Thankfully the house is not right next to mine so I don’t have to look at it all the time but it’s frustrating nonetheless. Like you said, property values decrease and critters increase when a home is abandoned in a bad state with garbage strewn about. It really angers me that people are so nasty and disrespectful of others that they choose to leave their garbage all over the yard and driveway. It’s rude and disgusting. Good luck to you. Hopefully the house will sell soon. And here’s hoping that the foreclosed house in my neighborhood will sell quickly too.

By: Corinna Gray

Corinna Gray — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:51:28 +0000

I actually grew up in your house (my parents sold it ot you in 2008) I vividly remember the lady next door (the problem house) keeping her yard and garden very well attended. Its so sad to see this happening to such a great little neighborhood.

By: DC

DC — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 23:35:41 +0000

Oh wow! I feel for you! We’ve been dealing with issues along the same lines for over 2 years with 3 vacant properties, surrounding us in a nice area of Cleveland, Ohio. It’s so frustrating and down right shameful that the officials at the banks and at these companies pass the buck the way that they do. I will say this, in Cleveland, if you complain about a property enough in respect to mowing, they will eventually come out after an inspector first views the property. Then it takes a few days, maybe they’re hopeful someone will beat them to it! Anyway, when they do come out, the city bills whomever has that property on their books. If it’s bank owned, the bank gets billed for each time the city has to do something. I am currently battling to try an get attention for the family of raccoons living on the vacant property next door. They are in the overhang, front of the garage. There is literally urine leaking unto the cement. It’s deplorable. I have children and a dog and we do not have huge lots. We’re very close in proximity so I have to take the dog out in our own backyard on a leash at night and no way do the kids get to come out once it’s dusk. We’ve called the Board of Health, Environmental Safety Dept, the Councilman’s office. So, it seems now we’ll be dealing with officials passing the buck on this current issue. I figure I will use my womanly wiles and issue a nice threat of a huge publicized issue if there are any injuries, etc from our current ‘neighbors’.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that this is obviously plaguing our country from one end to another and these towns and cities haven’t a clue how to manage these issues. I must admit, you have presented some wonderful ideas as far as having the community jump in and help with the forclosed/vacant properties. Thanks for sharing. We’re not alone!! LOL!!

By: kakieswrite

kakieswrite — Sun, 16 May 2010 15:18:53 +0000

Sorry to hear you have to deal with all of that. I hope you get resolution soon. :)

By: Paul Bernstein

Paul Bernstein — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:07:03 +0000

The banks made the loans. If one reads their mortgage documents, it i clear that the bank has the power to compel the owner to keep the properly properly maintained.

In case of default, more and more nationally,courts should step in to make certain that the banks keep their investments in the properties via their mortgages in good condition and repair.

By: Kalli

Kalli — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:52:38 +0000

Your patience is to be commended!