Abandoned house, roosting pigeons

Started by DwightT • 10 replies • 1345 views

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DwightT (Idaho)
Posts: 664

Posted:

We have a house in the neighborhood that has been abandoned due to bankruptcy of the owner. Even before the house was vacated though neither the owner nor the renters took care of the property. There is a high arch over the front porch, and pigeons have been roosting there for several months. As a result, the pigeon droppings are now 6" to 10" deep on the front step.

One of the neighbors was going over and washing it off every week (otherwise it would have been even deeper by now), but now the water has been turned off at the property so she can't even do that anymore. We have tried contacting the bank (large national bank that was recently acquired by another large national bank), but they obviously haven't been interested. One of the other Board members is checking with the City to see if they can help (health hazard?), but I haven't heard anything back from him yet.

Anybody have some thoughts on how to deal with the birds short of handing out pellet guns to the neighborhood kids?

RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164

Posted:

Dwight,
You might want to decide, as an association under BOD. to have a sign painted professionaly stateing something like this:

This House is Owned by the BYS Bank.
They received ownership through bankruptcy procedures on (date).
This Home Owners Association has attempted to contact this bank.
This Home Owners Association does not approve of not keeping up property within our association.

That is a bit wordy, but if you have common property you can put the sign up and you are right about your information, it might work.

Boy, I can't wait to hear the responses about this post.

But it is a serious, serious problem and we can look for more non action from whoever acquires the foreclosure properties. Assessments are going to be harder and harder to collect and properties will fall to dis-repair, unless it makes more money sense to the owners acquiring these properties to maintain them, and bad publicity hurts the bottom line. On the other side, it might work to allow a small sign on foreclosure property that the companies acquiring the propety can state the property is foreclosure and the "Bank" is maintaining the property in excellent condition, if that is the case.

GeorgerwilliamsW (Indiana)
Posts: 975

Posted:

It is a tough problem. In good times association members reap the benefits of community associations, and in bad times we pay the price.

Perhaps the best bet would be to picket the local office of the offending bank, and be sure to alert the media. Banks don't like embarrassment.

Have you contacted your state legislators and U. S. Congressmen and Senators? A call to their local offices might help bring some action.

Sometimes all it takes is a call from a congressional staffer to the right person to get action.

RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164

Posted:

George,
I certainly agree with this idea about contacting local or state politicians, and think this whole process is much ignored by associations. Sun City folks, and I am sure other large HOA have some political oomph, by and large the small HOA's and nearly all condos, except for when the building is burning don't seem to want to encourage political contacts. Could be a lot of reason for this starting with a developer that don't want the sun to shine too bright on his turn-over stipulations.

I would also politely suggest that as this process of foreclosures become more and more prevalent the personal contacts with the pols will become less and less effective, because of sheer numbers. Then the political oomph of the associations must be used to get attention.

MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By GeorgerwilliamsW on 02/16/2009 7:54 AM
It is a tough problem. In good times association members reap the benefits of community associations, and in bad times we pay the price.

Perhaps the best bet would be to picket the local office of the offending bank, and be sure to alert the media. Banks don't like embarrassment.

Have you contacted your state legislators and U. S. Congressmen and Senators? A call to their local offices might help bring some action.

Sometimes all it takes is a call from a congressional staffer to the right person to get action.

Yes, the Nuclear Option is always the first choice.

EllenS1 (Florida)
Posts: 1,148

Posted:

George,

All good ideas especially now that a lot of banks have bad names. I'd also put a sign on the street side of the property saying XX bank is the owner of this property. It pays to advertise!

MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491

Posted:

. . . firecrackers. . . .

GeorgerwilliamsW (Indiana)
Posts: 975

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By EllenS1 on 02/16/2009 1:04 PM I'd also put a sign on the street side of the property saying XX bank is the owner of this property.

But what about all those covenant restrictions and rules that prohibit signs in a community? Are you suggesting that the board violate the covenants?

GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By GeorgerwilliamsW on 02/16/2009 11:49 PM

Posted By EllenS1 on 02/16/2009 1:04 PM I'd also put a sign on the street side of the property saying XX bank is the owner of this property.

But what about all those covenant restrictions and rules that prohibit signs in a community? Are you suggesting that the board violate the covenants?

Well a lot of CC&R's state no signs unless approved by the BOD.

Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions

EllenS1 (Florida)
Posts: 1,148

Posted:

George,

I doubt for sale signs are prohibited so just put "for sale by XXX ban".

EllenS1 (Florida)
Posts: 1,148

Posted:

George,

I doubt for sale signs are prohibited so just put "for sale by XXX ban".

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