We own a rowhouse in Richmond, Va. The building has four units and one of the ones next door to us has been abandoned for years. It attracts vagrants and homeless people on the porch, which is open and inches from ours. The trash and food and urine left behind is nasty. The owner won't sell, but doesn't have the money to fix it up. What can we do?

Buy it from him. Report the problem to the local housing department. But as long as he pays the taxes, its unlikely you can get anything done. He might be fined for not securing the property.

He won't sell. I'd love to buy it. So, I'll just proceed AGAIN with local housing dept. The first time we complained about rats because of unkempt, overgrown back yard. He was fined and got very angry with my son (who lives there while in college). He is a "slumlord" in Richmond, grew up in the house so won't sell it, but can't afford to fix it up. Too bad if he gets mad, as a landlord, he should know the laws. Thanks for your quick response.

If he is paying the taxes the property is not abandoned but simple vacant and not kept up. Scott's thinking would work great, if you have the money. Call the cops every time a vagrant shows up, they'll find some other place to flop.

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

If he is paying the taxes the property is not abandoned but simple vacant and not kept up. Scott's thinking would work great, if you have the money. Call the cops every time a vagrant shows up, they'll find some other place to flop.

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Fortunately, I believe, my son has a soft heart for the homeless people, especially in cold weather. The main concern is the blight on the neighborhood and our property value, as we are preparing to refinance. I don't blame the homeless people, I just think the property should be maintained or sold.

Half of your 1st post was a complaint about homeless, vagrants, urine and garbage. Take away that and all you have is a run down home which has to get pretty bad before the city will step in. I have a neighbor not quite as bad as your's so I know what I think about maintenance but, unfortunately, that is not up to us. The owner has a right to foolishly let his place fall apart.

You are calling code enforcement every week. You are calling and writing your local counsel person every couple weeks. You don't worry who the owner gets mad at, you get him fined and fined and fined, till he does something.

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Originally Posted by dtchubb

... What can we do?

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File suit to enjoin the nuisance.

While I do not disagree with the previous posts I don't think I have heard any real description that would trigger a suit or code violation. Talk of trash and food/urine from vagrants is what I read and then the OP says the son has a soft spot for the homeless. Calling the police about trespassers and vagrants will eliminate or minimize those issues. Virginia has had a vagrancy law on the books since the Civil War, demand the police enforce it.

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

I don't think I have heard any real description that would trigger a suit or code violation.

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If the property is vacant it needs to be secured. If its not, allowing vagrants to easily move in, that could be a code violation. Unkempt grounds is also a code violation.

We have not been told that by the OP. The post says the vagrants are on the porch, I am sure if it was insecure they'd go inside. They should call the police to enforce the existing laws or get them a garbage can and a port-a-potty