The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors. The house across the street is going through the foreclosure process. The house’s owner (a woman going through a divorce) moved out of the house and began renting it to very undesirable people.

The police are there 2 - 3 times a week. We are constantly woken up to fighting in the middle of the night, we are very uncomfortable and scared. These people have nothing to lose; we have a son and a house. My neighbors have young children and the most important thing to us is the safety and well-being of our children.

The man is always drunk, we are positive he is on drugs and desperate. Who knows when he is going to get so desperate; he will break into our house or our neighbors.

I don't like going in our front yard, because the drunk man is always locked out and sitting or passed out on the steps and trying to get into the house and the girl is screaming bloody murder. They are both cursing, screaming, yelling etc... (I don't want my son hearing that kind of language.) Then when the police come, she doesn't press charges. However, the ironic part is they have orders of protection against each other.

My neighbors and I have submitted official hardcopy complaints to the town about the rental, we have called the police whenever there is an incident (fighting, cursing, the man is trying to break in and the woman is screaming, etc…)

We are so frustrated and so upset that our quality of life is being affected by this situation. These people are not supposed to be there. There is no permit to rent the house and it is so frustrating that the owner of the house is not making her mortgage payments, letting the house go into foreclosure and is making money off the house.

I know what she is doing is illegal. She needs a renter’s permit from the town and she should be claiming the income, which of course she won’t. Because of her lack of accountability we are suffering and she is profiting.

Here is what we have done so far:

1. We (my neighbors and us) have submitted official hardcopy complaints to Town since November.

2. We have contacted our Civic Association / Legislator via email and phone for advice and to make them aware of the situation.

3. We have a report of all the police reports and incidents from October to December/part of January.


4. We are trying to find out about the foreclosure process and when the bank will actually take over the house and what happens?

a. What will happen when the bank takes over?

b. How long will this take?

c. Will the bank make these people leave? There is no rental agreement, the owner denies she is taking money from these people, so do these people have rights?

d. If they have rights, how can they?

Also, she is using the address to keep her children in the school district. We honestly don't want to get the children involved, I am sure they are suffering and are most likely going through a very hard time.

Our (my family and our neighbors) main priority is getting these people out of the house so we can feel safe in our neighborhood and feel comfortable letting our children play in our front yards in the Spring and Summer.

I have lots of info, the owner's name, how much she owes, the bank's lawyer, the bank she has the loan with, the names of the tenants, the police reports, where the owner works, the names of her children, the violations against her.

I didn't want to post all that on a public board.

I am trying to find out where she is living now. Her mail still goes to address at the house she owns. The people who are renting the house work with her, so they bring her the mail. Hence, that is how her children can still go to school district. We are South Manor/Eastport School District which is a good school district.

I am looking for advice on what we can do next. Please HELP!

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

I am curious what town you are in that requires a renters permit to rent an entire house.

I have never heard of this. But then again who knows what some towns are capable of.

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

Brookhaven Township.

Yes, you have to apply for a rental permit. It costs about 1200 - 1500 depending on how big the house is.

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

Hmmm... I guess they don't call it cookhaven for nothing.

Permit fees are about $350-550 actually. Anything over $1000 is for a multi-unit dwelling.

That sucks though and it would really annoy me too. Hopefully they will be out soon.

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

I am not sure, the last night I talked to the building inspector she owed 1500 in voilations.

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

I am so surprised that the police officers are not arresting both of them. If they both have an Order of Protection against each other, they are violating it by living together, or even being near each other, even if its consensual. I believe its considered a felony. I would call your precinct and bring that up.

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

When the bank takes back the house the renters will be paid a relocation fee to leave...this gets them out everytime


Then the house will be boarded up and hopefully listed asap


I will see what else I can find out for you today...

Did you try calling the listing agent? I bet they have her address...she won't give that info to me- but a "concerned" neighbor might be able to get that

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

Message edited 1/26/2010 11:18:44 AM.

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

Honestly I would report it to the school that the family no longer lives there, I would also call the police every day if you have to lie lie. The guy is always drunk he wont know... If you see drunk guy get into car call in a dwi..

If you think drugs are involved call the police again....

Id be a thorn on their side

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

Oh Tara so sorry you are going thru this right now.

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

Posted by Goobster

Posted by ave1024

.

Anyway, I dont know what is going to come of this, the only one who can get them out is the homeowner. I am sorry for you all, I do agree it's a terrible situation!

unfortunately this is correct

the bank will be able to get this out- but that's only if the house get foreclosed on

as of right now- I can't find any evidence that this is going to happen anytime soon- it can take up to 2 years to foreclose these days and the renters would be able to stay until the bank takes action to remove them- this normally happens when the bank is about to list the house for sale- not the day it forecloses on

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

Who in the Town are you contacting? I would contact my town councilperson on a regular basis - at least once a week. Sometimes if you are a squeaky enough wheel, and they know that it is more than one resident complaining, he/she might do something about it.

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

That is horrible. Unfortunately I knew someone in a similar situation and there isnt much that can be done, it can actually take years for the foreclosure process... in my example, it was 2.5 years from the point the homeowner stopped paying the mortgage. Even after the bank took over it was 60 days before the sheriff came to evict.

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

Yes, Brookhaven made Absentee Landlords illegal...in an attempt to prevent situations such as this...

When DH and I rented our first apartment, it was attached to a home owned by a lovely older couple. They soon sold the house...to a couple who rented it out to people who were certainly "less-than-desirable" neighbors and who proceeded to cram 10-12 people into a 3 bedroom house...

DH and I soon moved out, but when we were moving, our neighbors were coming to us asking about what was going on...they had wanted to complain, but didn't want to hurt us...once we moved out, they complained and filed grievances with the town....We checked back with them a few months later and they were still fighting....

Eventually, the people did move out and the house was put on the market....

I'm not sure what advice to offer except to keep on top of the town...every person/official at the town you can find!! Keep emailing/calling/sending letters....if enough noise is made, they'll do something about it...

Or call News 12...they're seeming to always run stories like this...and they'll get the Town's attention!

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.

I'm sorry you are going through this. But if it were me, I would absolutely contact the school district. I would use every available option to try to rectify the situation.

Call your county legislator as well. Obviuosly, it's a town issue, but if the CL is inclined, they will call the town and put pressure on them, which could help.

Re: The last 4 months have been a nightmare for my family and our neighbors.