38 replies to this topic

[Andrea V]

Is there a way to get the OWNERS phone # to let them know what is going on? Like in our case, that the fence is very broken? (I doubt he will care about the trailers though)

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

Is there a way to get the OWNERS phone # to let them know what is going on? Like in our case, that the fence is very broken? (I doubt he will care about the trailers though)

Is there a safety risk with the broken fence (do they have a pool, a pet that stays out back, etc.?)? I called code enforcement regarding an abandoned house in our neighborhood because the pool is full of algae (potentially a mosquito breeding ground) and because we kept finding the side gate open and that's the only barrier to the pool. The city said they'd plant mosquito fish in the pool and would contact the owner about the gate.

[Darth Lefty]

The city said they'd plant mosquito fish in the pool

That's really easier or more legal than just draining the thing?

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

That's really easier or more legal than just draining the thing?

I'm fairly sure there's a risk of empty pools popping out of the ground. Maybe someone else here knows more about that.

[brown]

Is there a way to get the OWNERS phone # to let them know what is going on?

It's public information and should be readily available. I had an issue with our renters next door, and I just asked a realtor friend to look up the owner's name and phone number for us.

[ChipShot]

In this day and age, there is literally NOTHING you can do about bad neighbors, unless there is illegal activity going on like drug dealing, etc. You can talk to them, report them to code enforcement (worthless), ask them to fix things/yards, etc, but from what I've heard, it's all pretty much pointless. Some people just don't want to conform, and take pleasure out of being idiots and ticking people off. You either have some measure of class and decency and respect for your neighbors, or you don't...it boils down to that. I thank God every day for having good neighbors...it can really make or break your enjoyment of your home/neighborhood.

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[supermom]

Is there a way to get the OWNERS phone # to let them know what is going on? Like in our case, that the fence is very broken? (I doubt he will care about the trailers though)

I'm pretty sure that one of the realtors put a site up before; on getting that kind of info. Check the search engine?

As for the residents being renters--there is a good possiblity that the owners either doesn't know about the needed repairs of their property; or that the renters have a reason for not informing the owners--or that the owners are refusing to fix the property -- maybe they are trying to evict the renters--maybe their renters insurance won't cover the costs of repair until the renters have been successfully evicted?

I'm also pretty sure that a grievance with the city against that property is probably the quickest way to inform the owners of a problem with the property. The grievance would have to be mailed to the owner.

Maybe I'm wrong, though....It's been a while since I last rented a house, and it was in a different city.

I loved renting the house I had, though. The owners were very flexible and let me plant my own flowers and in return I had put in a nice drip line around the entire yard--front and back. I did my own yard work and reduced the amount of rent I had to pay.

When the owners wanted to raise the rent I offered to do the yard work on the other property they had on the street in exchange for maintaining my rent rate.

It looks to me, like this renter doesn't have a good repore with the owners of the property?

[Steve Heard]

Is there a way to get the OWNERS phone # to let them know what is going on? Like in our case, that the fence is very broken? (I doubt he will care about the trailers though)

Yes. Ownership is public record. Drop me a PM and I'll look it up.

That's really easier or more legal than just draining the thing?

Yes. Vector Control raises mosquito fish and will put them in abandoned pools at no charge. It's less laborious, time consuming, and cheaper than paying an employee to drain it.

In this day and age, there is literally NOTHING you can do about bad neighbors, unless there is illegal activity going on like drug dealing, etc. You can talk to them, report them to code enforcement (worthless), ask them to fix things/yards, etc, but from what I've heard, it's all pretty much pointless. Some people just don't want to conform, and take pleasure out of being idiots and ticking people off. You either have some measure of class and decency and respect for your neighbors, or you don't...it boils down to that. I thank God every day for having good neighbors...it can really make or break your enjoyment of your home/neighborhood.

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There may be nothing you can legally do about rude or dirty neighbors, but there are code enforcement and other legal remedies in many cases. Furthermore, most landlords want their tenants to be good neighbors. Wouldn't you? It doesn't hurt to contact them.

[ChipShot]

Furthermore, most landlords want their tenants to be good neighbors.

I would say it's #3 on the list, behind #1 (paying rent), and #2 (not destroying the house). Yes, I would contact the landlord, but I wouldn't expect any miracles. Besides, many landlords are no better than the renters themselves. They couldn't care less about the shabby yard or the rickety, broken fence. And don't get me started on "code enforcement". Their answer to most things is "it's beyond our scope". Gee, thanks for that. Sorry, but there's no way to sugar-coat it.

[brown]

I would say it's #3 on the list, behind #1 (paying rent), and #2 (not destroying the house). Yes, I would contact the landlord, but I wouldn't expect any miracles. Besides, many landlords are no better than the renters themselves. They couldn't care less about the shabby yard or the rickety, broken fence. And don't get me started on "code enforcement". Their answer to most things is "it's beyond our scope". Gee, thanks for that. Sorry, but there's no way to sugar-coat it.

We had the exact opposite experience when we contacted the owner of the property next door to us. He was very responsive and concerned about us and the other neighbors.

[hopeanelli]

We had the exact opposite experience when we contacted the owner of the property next door to us. He was very responsive and concerned about us and the other neighbors.

I did too recently the people next door are renters they moved in January and had not maintained the front yard and it was getting very overgrown with weeds that were spreading onto my lawn. I just called the owner (we still talk once in awhile) let her know and she was appreciative she didn't want her yards to be let go and the house look like crap... She called up her tenants let them know she would go ahead and send a clean up crew over to get it back in order and now she is having the yard maintained. The previous tenants had done their own work on the yard these tenants thought they would but due to an injury the husband couldn't. So see sometimes there is more to the story and also maybe the Owner truely doesn't know whats going on.

Now if there is broken windows with grey tape and fishy stuff going on you are probably correct in your thoughts of trouble lurking... Hopefully not a meth lab and it blows up the neighborhood... I would find out the owners through maybe stevethedad and get ahold of the owners let them do a drive by and see if they are happy with the way their property looks if the owner doesn't respond well then the next step is call to police about "not so good stuff" going on and see if they catch them in the act...

[Steve Heard]

We had the exact opposite experience when we contacted the owner of the property next door to us. He was very responsive and concerned about us and the other neighbors.

Same here.

[folsombound]

I rent out my house in Folsom and two different neighbors have my address and phone number in the Bay area. I was out 2 weeks ago to take care of some issues in a period between tenants and was madder than hell over the way the landscaping had been maintained by a landscaper that I pay. He was doing nothing and the tenants did not tell me about it. Now I have asked the neighbors to let me know if there is a problem. Now I am replanting the front lawn and the old landscaper is history.
Bottom line, if the owner is not local, sometimes they don't know what is happening. Yeah, I care about the rent but I plan on living there eventually so I don't want all the neighbors mad at me. I think most landlords are concerned about the condition of their property because it represents a very large investment(maybe a few upsidedown investors are the exception).

[folsom500]

In this day and age, there is literally NOTHING you can do about bad neighbors, unless there is illegal activity going on like drug dealing, etc. You can<> report them to code enforcement (worthless),

Actually Folsom Code works very well. I have called them on various things in the past and get action or at least a notice to the property or owners within 48 hours. I often call back to follow up or let them know that an issue has not been taken care of and they again respond quickly.

While most of my calls are about trailers or boats in the street, I have called about property issues that do no meet code as well - 355-7229 or Pete Pacardo (SP) 355 7316

Not sure a fence down is a code issue though. An abandoned or unkempt yard that creates a fire hazard IS...

YMMV

Cheers
F500

[folsom500]

We had the exact opposite experience when we contacted the owner of the property next door to us. He was very responsive and concerned about us and the other neighbors.

Eric, I see the NEW OWNERS of the house next to the rental ( not yours the other side)- FINALLY mowed their lawn... I was about to talk to them this week about it .. hope someone did ...