Abandoned Home
 

How do we get someone to help with a home abandoned for a year? Power is cut off and the refrigerator was still in use. The house is a hoarders dream. It got so bad some neighbors and lawn guy started taking care of weeds and lawn. Community Standards have not helped. They said they would tell the developer, but we have heard nothing. Realtors could not help since the house is paid for.
With all the rules and costs we cope with you would think The Villages would have a way to prevent neighborhood from deteriorating with these homes. Any suggestions on what we can do?

If Community Standards response was literally "we will tell the developer," they are not doing their job. Your next step is to contact one or more of your district supervisors and tell them the full story.

Location or Address
 

With 75,000 homes involved, you need to include an address or at the very least the neighborhood or Village.

house is in Briar Meadow

We gave detailed info to our district supervisor yesterday.

That’s probably the best that can be done. Unfortunately, sometimes these things take some time due to bureaucratic channels.

The cause could be many things:
Snowbirds on an extended stay
Snowbird passes away while out of state
Probate
Reverse mortgage closure
Nursing Home…

Probably getting the Sunny paper still? It’s a hard decision to make to start taking care of others property cause at the end of the day it’s not your property. Be careful.

Another thought along these lines: If the property is being maintained then what violation can you report to Community Standards?

Community Standards and the CDD can move to enforce external deed restrictions - basically the appearance of the property. If the grass is uncut or weeds are growing or the shrubs are too high or there is mold on the home then they can get involved. If the neighbors have rallied to cut the grass and pull the weeds then that doesn't leave much for Community Standards or the CDD to get involved with.

It puts the neighborhood in a bad situation with possibly no good solution: provide free maintenance for the foreseeable future or live with an unsightly property.

The Developer can (though some would say they seldom do) move to enforce internal deed restrictions but are any internal deed restrictions being violated? Having a home sit empty is not a violation. Having no power (or shutting off the breakers) is not a violation. Even if the Developer had the desire to act, he would first need something to act on.

Dichotomy
 

Agreed. No electric would mean no irrigation, but we are in the rainy season. Darned if you do, darned if you don’t.

Th wife is dead and he had very serious health issues and was taken to an assisted living in an unknown place yea many months ago. Likely dead.

BE VERY CAREFUL about broadcasting the address... squatters

Why?

Such incompetence. The Villages should be able to respond to this type of situation immediately upon notification. Abandoned and neglected houses occur all the time in The Villages. And, abandoned vehicles too.

Post Above
 

The post above yours is valid. The subject should be dropped. Not all people are nice and can be trusted. The older sections do have the more aged demographics etc. that bring on the problem the OP broadcast. Most of us have seen similar situations of certain areas in news articles.

Or not deceased, money going directly to facilities. My aunt was in memory care for 3 years. Home in TV was empty, however still kept up by local family. The will in place nothing could be sold until death.

This home may be in probate, zero family, or in some cases family no longer allowed information.

Isn't Briar Meadows in the snow belt?

I have been told in the past that it is trespassing and if you are maintaining it, there is no violation.

Good input. The Villages Watch workers probably have noticed the house. And then they came to the conclusion that nothing could be done legally.

If the county real estate taxes don't get paid, doesn't the county put the property up for auction?

After x amount of non paid taxes. Notices to Home. Multiple public announcements. Only then can and will the county take action selling property. No idea what Sumter legal procedure is but in some counties it can take multiple months and sometimes more than a year

A gentleman in my area brought house and 6 months later had medical episode died, no will? and Va loan, family members abandoned it probably due to more loan debt than it worth? House been setting over 2 years no power. I suspect it will be setting another 2 plus years. What I don’t understand how 80 plus gets I’m guessing ? 100% VA loan? If so that’s good news for me….. if I need loan at 90?……:shocked:

That’s not in their job description.

They are a problem here and sometimes it takes a while to evict them legally. I recall a post where three homeless persons had taken over a Villager’s home in Lady Lake?

So I’m guessing you’ve done some in-depth information on this home to know that there’s a VA loan and amount to be settled.

VA loan is guaranteed either Veteran or widower, as long as there is income. 80% is a rarity especially older age. 30 to 50% as a reality.

My dad was a contractor and rough carpenter, Homes for sale by the county for only taxes is bottom of the barrel.
Every home has to be completely gutted, no power for years. Take to studs, sheet rock mud (my job). Then sell for someone to finish. Quick turnaround and cash deal, usually another contractor.

If home hold mortgages, it’s bank owned, taxes their responsibility, sold as foreclosure.

"They" being whomever the Villages Watch people report to about homes with long periods of uncut grass and weeds.

If squatters took over, then the developers would have someone to go after
and get the place clean up. :shocked: I know right? strange world we live in.

We have two homes like this in our neighborhood. In both cases, the surviving spouse had to go into assisted living and it took years to go through the legal hoops to get these houses sold. Both have now been cleaned up and put up on the market.

New Florida Law
 

I was told that Florida recently passed a squatters law. Property owner can go the the Sheriff and prove they own the property, fill out some paperwork, and the squatters will be removed by law enforcement.

Good luck
 

There are at least 3 of those homes in Polo Ridge, 1 has been vacant for about 4+ years & has an outdoor garage light hanging by a wire…after reading about lightening strikes, maybe that’s the only way these homes will be taken care of…or not.🤷🏼*♀️

Another Mountain to Climb
 

“Both have now been cleaned up and put back on the market.” Selling the home in the current real estate climate is yet another mountain to climb. What’s the average time now, 60-70 days? Many just drop off the MLS due to time lapse of contract and no buyers.

Try contacting the health department. Rats, mold and other pests may be running rampant.

Pull the deed. See if it’s an enhanced, naming a beneficiary. They are the ones to resolve the situation. Run them for an address & contact, You can also run the owners name for relatives & they may help.

A home at Linden Isle Rhett Road has been abandoned for over 2 years now. Taxes are still paid.

I wonder if an Orlando News Channel would be interested in a perspective report about the disadvantages of living in an age restricted community that has abandoned or tied up in court homes next to those trying to enjoy their home.:eek:

Not sure if Briar Meadows is within a city jurisdiction, parts of the Villages are. If it is contact the City it is within. Most towns have their own community standards enforcement department. Just a thought.

Hmmm. 🤔 So, how is the power off and the refrigerator still in use?

Gas Powered
 

We used to have a gas powered fridge at our hunting camp.

You noticed that too? I wonder how many homes in TV have gas powered fridges.

Or generators?:popcorn:

OP would have mentioned the generator was running (they’re pretty loud ) no?