What to Do with a Property Next Door, Up for Sale, That Should Be Condemned

[artmaker]

My question involves real estate located in the State of: MI

I'm asking on behalf of my aunt who is beside herself over this.

The house right next to hers, was occupied by literally slobs. Overcrowded, couldn't pay for running water or trash removal, just horrible.

Ok, thankfully they are finally evicted. In the process of them moving, they left an open bin of some kind of used oil in the backyard.
A dumpster packed with trash for over a month now. (And while they were moving, for the first time ever my aunt got a rodent problem. our best guess is they were running from that slum into her house.)
They stuffed garbage, broken glass, wire and who knows what else into every crawl space.
She has seen the inside and it's loaded with black mold. Moss grows on the roof, windows broken, and the good folks who moved ripped of most of the siding before they left.

This building needs to be condemned but instead, the bank put up signs, low income, no income, call........


She took pictures and went to the town hall. The guy there, (I will leave out names) is a master at double talk. I know, I've gone to a few town meetings and wow. He could run for president! Just a master at dancing around any issue with non answers then moving on.
So she shows him the photos. He said "I don't have a phone to call." She showed him a picture of these two big signs nailed to the trees out front with the phone number. Shut him up fast. He said he'd ask the bank to clean it up. Yea well she's heard that before.
I swear to you, last year I pulled up and the neighbors had OPEN bags of really foul garbage just swarming with flies laying right out on the front lawn. And this town actually has a grass ordinance. SHE gets a notice if her grass is six inches long after a week of rain but no one sees all the garbage right next door?



My question is, legally, when going to the town hall gets you no where, what is the next step?
I told her right now she aught to send a letter asking for these things to be addressed in a "reasonable time frame" (which leaves lots of flexibility I know.) Include the photos and send this certified mail. But after that? Then what? She lives on SS so really no bathtubs of money to hire lawyers. But surely there is something that can be done. Seems the bank is perfectly willing to put anything they want into that dwelling no questions asked. It's not right.



If this were a landlord tenant thing, I know how to look that up myself. Been there done that. But when the building in question is up for sale, and in such a state, what can a neighbor do to get this either cleaned up or torn down? Either way? I have no idea what to look up for that.

I might need to mention, she is pretty sure this is a HUD house. And the town hall guy said the inside is "none of his business." Yea well... when she bought her giant victorian right next door, they inspected and insisted she rewire, and replace a perfectly good water heater. So they do inspect. Again he's full of it.

[BenT]

Might sound like a crazy idea - but how about buying the property for a low price and doing away once and for all with any crappy neighbors moving in? It would be a permanent fix and would dispense with the hassle of city hall, lawyers etc. Just a thought.

[artmaker]

No, not rich. She lives on SS. Retired secretary who saved all her life. Bought a two flat in chicago and when the balloon mortgage was about to pop she had to do something. Dollars go further in Michigan. She sold that building and bought a victorian corner home here and paid for it outright. But that's it. Living now on SS. Nothing left over. She sells old avon stuff on ebay to buy groceries.
Buying a building now is out of the question.

There has to be a way.

Either force the bank or who ever owns it to fix it, clean it up, bring it up to code. Then they would surely want to sell to someone who could afford to keep up with their "investment." Not this low income, no income, anyone with a pulse come on in garbage.

has to be a way to force this. Either bring it up to code, clean the property, or condemn the place and tear it down The mold alone would make it inhabitable. But who do you call when the town hall wont' do a thing?
Does HUD care? EPA? State reps? What's the next level up from her town board?

[LandSurveyor]

You could call in the Ohio Blue Tip Remodeling Company.

Just kidding. You don't want to get involved in arson.

Does HUD care? EPA? State reps? What's the next level up from her town board?

You are getting close to the right track. I might call the state or fed EPA and briefly lay out the scenario for them, knowing that they might not be able to intervene, but be able to give you some advice as to how to proceed. If there is a county health department that would also be worth a phone call.

As for dealing with your town, understand that verbal communications are basically worthless and everything from you should be in writing.

Good Luck!

[jk]

if you have not contacted the code enforcement office, do so. Keep on them regularly asking them when the situation will be remedied.

given the condition described, this also might be a valid health hazard so call the health department and get them involved.

Then, given the description, it might be structurally unsafe so get the building department involved.

Hopefully she didn't go from Chicago to Detroit. If she did, she might as well figure out how to move again because they don't have the money to do much of anything up there.


Does she live within a city or town? If not, an incorporated township?

[artmaker]

Thanks... just names of what officers might help. At least we have a chain of command to track down.

On a side note, I did once call the health department when there were people still living in there. About 13 people in a single family home, and the kids said they have no running water and maggots in the fridge.
Health department knew them, and did NOTHING! Said as long as they carry in water there is nothing they can do.
OMG how do you flush for 13 people let alone cook, wash hands, bathe!


And no, not Detroit. It says here not to give out too many details, but SW corner of MI. MUCH nicer than Detroit.

Small town though. One of those towns were everyone in it is either related to everyone else, or knows everyone else from their cousins... well you get the idea. I can post it here if that's allowed.

I can say this much, being a Chicago transplant into this town, then buying one of the biggest nicest homes in it and living there alone, really brought out the nasty in people. I got the same treatment when I moved out here. (into an even smaller town.)
And they all just assume she's rich.

[jk]

And no, not Detroit. It says here not to give out too many details, but SW corner of MI. MUCH nicer than Detroit.

Small town though. One of those towns were everyone in it is either related to everyone else, or knows everyone else from their cousins... well you get the idea. I can post it here if that's allowed.
.

Not actually asking for the info but I'm in SW MI myself. Berrien County to be more exact.

and yes, it is a lot nice here than in Detroit.


and again, not asking but hope this isn't Benton Harbor either. They are kind of our Detroit west. Money problems galore.


is she in or outside of a city or town? That can make a difference who has any authority in the issue.

[artmaker]

No, I'm your neighbor though in Van Buren CO. My aunt is only six miles from me but technically we both share the same town as a mailing addy. Even though I'm in a separate township.

I can say this much, my tiny little township hall meetings are packed every month. And my township actually has money in the bank. They fund things like new fire trucks and pay outright. Then start saving for the next one. They are great.

Then there is her town. Maybe two people will bother to show up. So they get away with passing stupid ordinances, and tax increases and there simply is no one to stand up and complain. The mayer is a real jerk too. But he just keeps on getting re elected. And he does NOTHING.
Leaves all the work to this manager fella who is the double talker king of the world.
I just can't believe the people never show up at all. It's why nothing ever changes there.

But this? That building is not owned by the town. It's owned I believe by the bank. I'm hoping there is a chain of command we can go to over the head of the board to force who ever owns that building to either take care of it, or level it. Not sell it off as is.

[trafeng]

Have you gone to a Town Council meeting and talked about the problem? Most have a public comment period where you might be able to go and discuss the issue. Its on record, so be factual. See what kind of results you get from that.