Abandoned Home

[BDuane007]

I just moved into the Villages recently and have heard from my neighbors that the house next to me has been abandoned for several years now. It is unsightly and getting worse by the day. Can someone tell me who to contact about this issue. I had planned on possibly renting my home in the future, but living next to this home would make this impossible. Any help would be appreciated.

[Bay Kid]

Contact the owner and try to buy the home. Can't control it if you don't own it. Just curious, did you notice any problem with the neighbor when you bought yours?

[UsuallyLurking]

I just moved into the Villages recently and have heard from my neighbors that the house next to me has been abandoned for several years now. It is unsightly and getting worse by the day. Can someone tell me who to contact about this issue. I had planned on possibly renting my home in the future, but living next to this home would make this impossible. Any help would be appreciated.

Unsightly = call Community Standards (352-751-3912). That will get the official process started on determining whether or not it has in fact been abandoned (and the only way to remedy the situation if you can't talk to the occupant of the home). It is a government process, so it will take a while, but until someone makes a complaint nothing will be done.

[vintageogauge]

Ditto on calling Community Standards but I have a few questions. Abandoned for several years but you bought a home next to it, how did it look then? If it is so bad that it's impossible to rent it out, why did you buy it? Did you ask the neighbors that told you it was abandoned for several years if they ever started the process to have it maintained? Several years, something is not right here.

[MrFlorida]

You can look up the tax records and see who owns it... maybe call them ?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I just moved into the Villages recently and have heard from my neighbors that the house next to me has been abandoned for several years now. It is unsightly and getting worse by the day. Can someone tell me who to contact about this issue. I had planned on possibly renting my home in the future, but living next to this home would make this impossible. Any help would be appreciated.

Get in touch with Community Standards. You can reach them at 352-751-3912, or fax them at 352-751-6707. Or, you can e-mail a complaint at deedcompliance@districtgov.org

[golfing eagles]

Get in touch with Community Standards. You can reach them at 352-751-3912, or fax them at 352-751-6707. Or, you can e-mail a complaint at deedcompliance@districtgov.org

Call me cynical, but do you really think this property has been "abandoned" and an eyesore for TWO YEARS and none of the neighbors have so much as called community standards?????

[Papa_lecki]

Call me cynical, but do you really think this property has been "abandoned" and an eyesore for TWO YEARS and none of the neighbors have so much as called community standards?????

Put an unauthorized yard display (a flamingo or a cross) on the front yard. That will get someone’s attention

[wisbad1]

Call me cynical, but do you really think this property has been "abandoned" and an eyesore for TWO YEARS and none of the neighbors have so much as called community standards?????
Seven years

[golfing eagles]

Seven years

"several"

[JMintzer]

Seven years

"Several Years..."

[Malsua]

Do a search of the tax records and see if it was paid.

If the house is really abandoned, the taxes won't have been paid and frankly, nothing is going to change.

Did you give the house a good sniff test? Maybe the former resident is still in situ.

[JMintzer]

"several"

Damn you! That's what happens when I get up to pee mid post...

[Garywt]

Where did you buy? There is an issue when residents die or go into a nursing home. If there is no family, houses can sit for a long time before something happens to the property.

[jack.hunter00@yahoo.com]

Why did your realtor not tell you this when you bought yours?
Contact The Villages Community Development Districts, (community Standards) 352-751-3912 or (Property Management) 352-753-4022.

Good luck

[butlerperkins@gmail.com]

2021 0703 Sat ������ 07:07
I have a neighbor whose wife was due yesterday (expecting a baby). His yard has “lapsed”. Come Monday, if he has not seen to his yard, I will head over and begin to spruce it up (mow, edge, weed).

Perhaps you have the wherewithal to do a similar intervention?

[RICH1]

Now is a good time to experiment with different brands of fertilizers!

[retiredguy123]

Why did your realtor not tell you this when you bought yours?
Contact The Villages Community Development Districts, (community Standards) 352-751-3912 or (Property Management) 352-753-4022.

Good luck
The real estate agent works for the seller. They have no obligation to disclose something like that to a buyer. Buyer beware.

[Swoop]

Really? If the house next door was “abandoned for several years” wouldn’t it have already looked horrific when you purchased the house directly next door?!?
Nothing about the OP rings true. Sounds more like someone with too much time on their hands just stirring the pot…

[Marathon Man]

2021 0703 Sat ������ 07:07
I have a neighbor whose wife was due yesterday (expecting a baby). His yard has “lapsed”. Come Monday, if he has not seen to his yard, I will head over and begin to spruce it up (mow, edge, weed).

Perhaps you have the wherewithal to do a similar intervention?

It is important that no one mows the yard of an abandoned house. It will be declared "in compliance" and the process will reset to step one. As bad as it gets, everyone must allow the process to play out until the CDD can legally hire someone to go onto the property. Unless of course you are willing to cut the grass every week until the property is finally sold.

[J1ceasar]

That's how I think. But in reality all it will do is get them fined and then if you want to buy the house you have to pay the fines. The best thing is to get the owner's name if possible, and they're probably dead or in a home for the mental so you can't do much and then you would have to track whoever is legally in charge of the house and their assets, of course if the town really cared they could get it through eminent domain! It might take one year or two. By the way if you want to rent your home under price it by $500 a month and you'll see how fast somebody grabs it and they won't care what the house next door looks like


Put an unauthorized yard display (a flamingo or a cross) on the front yard. That will get someone’s attention

[PaulinTV]

I'm not sure where you are located but someone in Fenney is going through a similar situation. After many attempts at getting resolution she posted the following process for Districts 12 & 13.

1) File your complaint by letter to Community Standards at deedcompliance@districtgov.org. Community Standards at this juncture is simply the liaison to the developer and his representative Mr Dzuro, who is the only person technically who can enforce deed restrictions before a board is elected to represent the District, which they now are. My question is then why hasn’t he done it? That’s what our tax dollars are paying for!).
2). Mr Dzuro can be reached directly at archreview@district.gov.
3). A board of directors has been voted upon and is established now to pass legislation on deed compliance. The chairman of District 12 and 13 is Jon Roudabush who can be contacted at jon.roudabush@districtgov.org. The reason I did not hear back from him in writing him is that Florida law prohibits the Board of Supervisors from communicating with residents about Deed Compliance or Architectural Review cases, therefore refer back to step one and submit your complaint to Community Standards above. (Are we having fun yet? 🤪🙄.)
4. The five members of the Board of Supervisors for District 12 and 13 are:
a. Jon Roudabush - jon.roudabush@districtgov.org
b. Ron McMahon - ron.monahan@districtgov.org
c. David Robbins - david.robbins@districtgov.org
d Andrew Bilardello - andrew.bilardello@district.gov
e. Donald E Levens -donald.levens@districtgov.org
With that said, they are having an open public meeting for District 12 and 13 on Thursday July 8th at 1:30 at Everglades Rec Center.
My questions are still these:
1). If the developer is the only one who can enforce deed compliances before a board is put in place, which can’t be done until every property is sold in that village., why hasn’t he been enforcing these major property violations as n this case and others? My neighbor has had letters sent to her in October 2019, January 2020, and now April and June of this year. How many chances do you get? When does an actual resolution and the property cleaned up occur? She also hasn’t paid her taxes as of 2020. She has strung these people along and they actually kept believing her. 🙄.
2). Why can’t the yard be taken care of, the owner billed for the cleanup now and a lien put on the property if failure to pay occurs while all this other paperwork to file a lawsuit against the property is going on? The bottom line is get the property cleaned up immediately.
3). It still mentally is a disconnect for me how those of us can be paying amenities fees, sewage , irrigation fees and such to SSU, which I have learned is a government entity of The Villages, but the developer hasn’t turned us over yet to TV proper. Clearly someone got an F in math class when they talked about the associative property of math where a=b and b=c, therefore a=c. Not in The Villages. 🙄.
4). Why are real estate agents promoting villages south of 44 when there will be no Community Standards for those villages for two years if the developer doesn’t enforce it for them, because no board can be established yet?
Pay attention folks south of 44. Write your complaints to all I’ve given you above. Meanwhile attend that meeting on July 8th.

[Girlcopper]

Call me cynical, but do you really think this property has been "abandoned" and an eyesore for TWO YEARS and none of the neighbors have so much as called community standards?????
Exactly! Besides. You buy a house and never heard until now that there was an abandoned for yrs house right next door? You didnt see it? Ask the realtor about it or even question a neighbor? Usually you check the neighborhood especially a run down shack visible next door

[merrymini]

Sometimes I think these issues are planted here to get a rise out of people. You cannot possibly be this stupid.

[justjim]

OP, sorry to hear about your problem. It does no good to mention due diligence when purchasing a house now. Abandon, unkept and trashed homes are a problem across the country searching for an answer. There are many reasons and far too many to mention here. Obviously, the place to start is to locate the owner or owners and go from there. Good luck. This happens even in a deed restricted community like The Villages.

[Normal]

It couldn’t have been abandoned. The county would make sure to have placed it on its tax roles! You can call the county for details on who pays those taxes.

[Traveling lady]

Contact the owner and try to buy the home. Can't control it if you don't own it. Just curious, did you notice any problem with the neighbor when you bought yours?

I lived in New York. Although I was quite familiar with the neighborhood that I moved into, I did not see my house until I closed on it. The realtor sent me pictures of the house, but nothing of the surrounding houses. They could’ve been falling down for all I knew

[OhioBuckeye]

Put an unauthorized yard display (a flamingo or a cross) on the front yard. That will get someone’s attention

Super idea Papa! They’ll have to call the owners about how you’re not supposed to put Flamingos in yard, in fact the neighbor should put 10 or 15 in the yard. lMAO, I like your remedy!

[BlackhawksFan]

Why did your realtor not tell you this when you bought yours?


Well because it appears they finally found someone willing to buy the house next to the long term "eyesore" and most of all commission.

[Frank Giardino]

If its in Amelia, The house you are talking about has been empty for a number of years, a neighbor tried to buy it, no replay, numerous complaints filed, someone did hire a yard man to mow monthly, but being vacant all the years will take its toll eventually, and it seems to be occurring. I write this, because the house across the street from the house has recently been sold.

[Villagesgal]

New buyer who posted probably got a great deal because of the property next door and now wants it cleaned up and taken care of to raise the value of her property. You bought what you bought. I don't for a moment believe you didn't know what was next door. Sorry, no sympathy from me.

[La lamy]

Put an unauthorized yard display (a flamingo or a cross) on the front yard. That will get someone’s attention

:1rotfl: :1rotfl: :1rotfl:

[joelfmi]

My questions are still these:
1). If the developer is the only one who can enforce deed compliances before a board is put in place, which can’t be done until every property is sold in that village., why hasn’t he been enforcing these major property violations as n this case and others? My neighbor has had letters sent to her in October 2019, January 2020, and now April and June of this year. How many chances do you get? When does an actual resolution and the property cleaned up occur? She also hasn’t paid her taxes as of 2020. She has strung these people along and they actually kept believing her. 🙄.
2). Why can’t the yard be taken care of, the owner billed for the cleanup now and a lien put on the property if failure to pay occurs while all this other paperwork to file a lawsuit against the property is going on? The bottom line is get the property cleaned up immediately.
3). It still mentally is a disconnect for me how those of us can be paying amenities fees, sewage , irrigation fees and such to SSU, which I have learned is a government entity of The Villages, but the developer hasn’t turned us over yet to TV proper. Clearly someone got an F in math class when they talked about the associative property of math where a=b and b=c, therefore a=c. Not in The Villages. 🙄.
4). Why are real estate agents promoting villages south of 44 when there will be no Community Standards for those villages for two years if the developer doesn’t enforce it for them, because no board can be established yet?
Pay attention folks south of 44. Write your complaints to all I’ve given you above. Meanwhile attend that meeting on July 8th.[/QUOTE].

From this tread which very transparent makes me think twice and it should make other buyer think again before purchasing a house at the villages.

[vintageogauge]

My questions are still these:
1). If the developer is the only one who can enforce deed compliances before a board is put in place, which can’t be done until every property is sold in that village., why hasn’t he been enforcing these major property violations as n this case and others? My neighbor has had letters sent to her in October 2019, January 2020, and now April and June of this year. How many chances do you get? When does an actual resolution and the property cleaned up occur? She also hasn’t paid her taxes as of 2020. She has strung these people along and they actually kept believing her. 🙄.
2). Why can’t the yard be taken care of, the owner billed for the cleanup now and a lien put on the property if failure to pay occurs while all this other paperwork to file a lawsuit against the property is going on? The bottom line is get the property cleaned up immediately.
3). It still mentally is a disconnect for me how those of us can be paying amenities fees, sewage , irrigation fees and such to SSU, which I have learned is a government entity of The Villages, but the developer hasn’t turned us over yet to TV proper. Clearly someone got an F in math class when they talked about the associative property of math where a=b and b=c, therefore a=c. Not in The Villages. 🙄.
4). Why are real estate agents promoting villages south of 44 when there will be no Community Standards for those villages for two years if the developer doesn’t enforce it for them, because no board can be established yet?
Pay attention folks south of 44. Write your complaints to all I’ve given you above. Meanwhile attend that meeting on July 8th..

From this tread which very transparent makes me think twice and it should make other buyer think again before purchasing a house at the villages.[/QUOTE]

You seem to be posting your complaints everywhere and it's not going to stop anyone from buying a home in the villages or even think twice about it. You are bashing the villages south of 44 yet all villages had to go through the same process, it's nothing new. You should be happy that your neighbor is cutting their grass,(yes, I drove passed it again today and the lawn has been recently mowed, not coming back from the dead as you noted in one of your other posts.) maybe they have a contract to take care of the weeds too and unknown to the absentee owner the contractor is just not doing it. Maybe the owner is ill and in a nursing home or maybe she passed away and the home is in probate, who knows. She has owned the home for over 3 years and surely one of the neighbors knows what happened to her if they are willing to talk to you. There are several homes like this in Fenney and each one has a different reason for neglect, everything is not black and white when it comes to enforcing the deed restrictions. You have written dozens and dozens of posts for this one single home with weeds do you not have anything else to do. Be thankful you don't have a bed and breakfast next-door to you with God knows who being your neighbor every few days, be glad you don't have a neighbor with 3 or 4 dogs barking all day long, be thankful someone is not cooking up meth next door to you, there are a lot of things you can be thankful for living down here yet you constantly complain about your neighbors weeds. There is a lot more to life than complaining.

[BDuane007]

Unsightly = call Community Standards (352-751-3912). That will get the official process started on determining whether or not it has in fact been abandoned (and the only way to remedy the situation if you can't talk to the occupant of the home). It is a government process, so it will take a while, but until someone makes a complaint nothing will be done.

Thanks for the phone number. All the neighbors will be happy to know this. I will call them tomorrow. Someone (??) is paying to have the grass cut weekly so you'd never know anything was really wrong. No home to pick from really when I was looking. Full price only was the rule of thumb, (probably still is) and I was going thru a divorce so my choices were limited. I assumed that because I would now be in "The Villages" that there would be an HOA to handle these things, but no such luck. I'll run this race myself.

[golfing eagles]

I just moved into the Villages recently and have heard from my neighbors that the house next to me has been abandoned for several years now. It is unsightly and getting worse by the day. Can someone tell me who to contact about this issue. I had planned on possibly renting my home in the future, but living next to this home would make this impossible. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks for the phone number. All the neighbors will be happy to know this. I will call them tomorrow. Someone (??) is paying to have the grass cut weekly so you'd never know anything was really wrong. No home to pick from really when I was looking. Full price only was the rule of thumb, (probably still is) and I was going thru a divorce so my choices were limited. I assumed that because I would now be in "The Villages" that there would be an HOA to handle these things, but no such luck. I'll run this race myself.

OK, this is getting even more confusing. Which is it????? "Unsightly and getting worse", or "you'd never know anything was really wrong"?????
And why would you have to "run this race yourself"???? None of your neighbors are unhappy with the appearance of this property???? And it has been like that for years????
IF this was a legitimate post, I wish you luck with your quest and a quick resolution

[Velvet]

Sometimes I think these issues are planted here to get a rise out of people. You cannot possibly be this stupid.

Well… I know the street where my parents lived on quite well. Familiar enough with the area that I would buy a property without coming down to see a house in person if I couldn’t. I know what most of the homes there already. But it is possible that someone passes away or gets sick next door etc etc. and I wouldn’t know about it. OP might be in the same position.

[Bilyclub]

I assumed that because I would now be in "The Villages" that there would be an HOA to handle these things, but no such luck. I'll run this race myself.

It's pretty apparent you bought a house here not knowing there is no HOA and things are done differently. Although it's a pretty common practice to turn developments over to the residents only after all the properties are sold.

[Bogie Shooter]

Thanks for the phone number.

This phone number is available in; the phone book, on the Internet and in that stack of papers you got at closing. All the neighbors will be happy to know this. I will call them tomorrow.
My bet is your neighbors already know this number. Someone (??) is paying to have the grass cut weekly so you'd never know anything was really wrong. No home to pick from really when I was looking. Full price only was the rule of thumb, (probably still is) and I was going thru a divorce so my choices were limited. I assumed that because I would now be in "The Villages" that there would be an HOA to handle these things, but no such luck.
Assumed there would be a HOA........it is obvious that wasn't the only thing you assumed. I'll run this race myself.
////

[BDuane007]

Ditto on calling Community Standards but I have a few questions. Abandoned for several years but you bought a home next to it, how did it look then? If it is so bad that it's impossible to rent it out, why did you buy it? Did you ask the neighbors that told you it was abandoned for several years if they ever started the process to have it maintained? Several years, something is not right here.

Community Standards came out and told me that they had issues with this homeowner before and the family wants nothing to do with it, period. Comm. Standards has zero authority to do anything other than (are you ready for this?), cut the grass! Yep, that's all they can do in these matters. I assumed "The Villages" had more authority than this, but I was wrong. Nothing more to be done or said so I will be putting my home up for sale and getting out of The Villages. Very disappointed but lesson learned. Trust no one!

[Papa_lecki]

Community Standards came out and told me that they had issues with this homeowner before and the family wants nothing to do with it, period. Comm. Standards has zero authority to do anything other than (are you ready for this?), cut the grass! Yep, that's all they can do in these matters. I assumed "The Villages" had more authority than this, but I was wrong. Nothing more to be done or said so I will be putting my home up for sale and getting out of The Villages. Very disappointed but lesson learned. Trust no one!

I am confused. The grass is being cut, when you bought your house, you didn’t know anything was up with the neighboring house.
You have 3 posts here, you seemingly bought your house months ago and you are now selling
When you bought your house, houses were selling like hot cakes and you had few options - i guess except for renting an apartment near Brownwood or renting one of the many houses for 2 or 3 months until you found a house you liked.

[Normal]

If family members don’t want anything to do with the property, someone still has to pay taxes on it. We all know the county will claim the home 2 years after the delinquent date and then resell it for what it is owed. You’ve got yourself a deal! Pay the 10 grand and resell it for a fortune! Tax sales are June 1 of the given year.

You see, you have been blessed in your choice to move to the Villages once again������. Now you have a Ggggreat life style, nice home and warm winters along with some extra “coin”in the poke.

Not Paying Florida Property Tax: Deed Sales & Property Liens | Nolo (https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/what-happens-if-i-dont-pay-property-taxes-florida.html)

Thank you for sharing your fortunate news with others. Maybe give at least 10 percent of your take to charities?

[njbchbum]

Community Standards came out and told me that they had issues with this homeowner before and the family wants nothing to do with it, period. Comm. Standards has zero authority to do anything other than (are you ready for this?), cut the grass! Yep, that's all they can do in these matters. I assumed "The Villages" had more authority than this, but I was wrong. Nothing more to be done or said so I will be putting my home up for sale and getting out of The Villages. Very disappointed but lesson learned. Trust no one!

Good luck with your search! Don't forget to do your due diligence next time and avoid any potential for disappointment!

[golfing eagles]

Community Standards came out and told me that they had issues with this homeowner before and the family wants nothing to do with it, period. Comm. Standards has zero authority to do anything other than (are you ready for this?), cut the grass! Yep, that's all they can do in these matters. I assumed "The Villages" had more authority than this, but I was wrong. Nothing more to be done or said so I will be putting my home up for sale and getting out of The Villages. Very disappointed but lesson learned. Trust no one!

Another satisfied customer:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

PS: Please let me know the address of your house and the "unsightly" property next door----I'll buy them both (for the right price)

[graciegirl]

My questions are still these:
1). If the developer is the only one who can enforce deed compliances before a board is put in place, which can’t be done until every property is sold in that village., why hasn’t he been enforcing these major property violations as n this case and others? My neighbor has had letters sent to her in October 2019, January 2020, and now April and June of this year. How many chances do you get? When does an actual resolution and the property cleaned up occur? She also hasn’t paid her taxes as of 2020. She has strung these people along and they actually kept believing her. ������.
2). Why can’t the yard be taken care of, the owner billed for the cleanup now and a lien put on the property if failure to pay occurs while all this other paperwork to file a lawsuit against the property is going on? The bottom line is get the property cleaned up immediately.
3). It still mentally is a disconnect for me how those of us can be paying amenities fees, sewage , irrigation fees and such to SSU, which I have learned is a government entity of The Villages, but the developer hasn’t turned us over yet to TV proper. Clearly someone got an F in math class when they talked about the associative property of math where a=b and b=c, therefore a=c. Not in The Villages. ������.
4). Why are real estate agents promoting villages south of 44 when there will be no Community Standards for those villages for two years if the developer doesn’t enforce it for them, because no board can be established yet?
Pay attention folks south of 44. Write your complaints to all I’ve given you above. Meanwhile attend that meeting on July 8th..



How do you know that the "developer" has not imposed numerous accumulating fines on this property? There is a limit to what can be done with homes that have been abandoned or are bank owned.

The new properties always take a "while" before deed restrictions are enforced. I am a person who so dislikes people who MAY have their own agenda, stirring the pot.

It works. It will work and it has worked. I think the dumbest thing done so far is the group that sued the developer and got just what THEY wanted.

I like the way that the developer runs things. Yes I do.

Signed Grace, the old.

[Bilyclub]

It would have been nice if the OP would have posted a few pics of all this unsightliness.

[Normal]

Another satisfied customer:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

PS: Please let me know the address of your house and the "unsightly" property next door----I'll buy them both (for the right price)

Are you selling? Where? What’s the asking price?

[ctmurray]

Call me cynical, but do you really think this property has been "abandoned" and an eyesore for TWO YEARS and none of the neighbors have so much as called community standards?????
Likely this house has been reported and Community Standards is working the process (but the OP should call them and check). The houses like this in our neighborhood take about 4 years before the are finally resold. Banks are very slow to foreclose and then get ready to sell, not sure why.