Duplex with no HOA - neighbor issues (renter, insurance)

[pcgeller]

I life in a duplex community that doesn't have any type of HOA. This can be a blessing and a curse.

Right now it's a curse, my neighbor is a renter and have general apathy towards keeping the place maintained. Yesterday they had their basement flood because the drain to the dugout stairs leading into the basement was clogged with leaves. So far I've had 0 water in my basement, I keep the drain clear and regularly clean out the leaves.

My question is do I have any recourse for holding the other property owner liable for damage to my property because they don't properly maintain theirs?

Their basement flooding regularly would eventually effect mine, which got a nice musty smell after theirs flooded. We only have a cinderblock party wall which can only hold out a certain level of moisture.

We also had a tree limb fall on the shared chimney which caused some roof damage (tree was on my side insurance covered it). I've fixed my side of the roof but they aren't doing anything with theirs.

The current renters hate the property management company (Better Homes Management) saying they are difficult to get a hold of and even more difficult to get the work done. They like to refer to the property owner as the slum lord.

So any advice or tips?

[HokieFan]

Is it possible that you could contact the property management company directly and file a complaint?

Do you know the actual property owner and possibly contact him? He could be completely unaware that the property management company is doing such a poor job of 'managing' the property. A flooded basement could lead to mold as well as a leaky-damaged roof. You have a right to be concerned.

[bmwguydc]

Another suggestion would be to contact the housing and development office in your local jurisdiction to see if there is any recourse that they can offer. I would, however, attempt to contact the neighbor first, just to make sure that the management company is not the problem. As HokieFan pointed out, it could be the case of an absentee landlord who is not aware of the issues. However, if they refuse to respond to you, then I would contact the housing and development office to see if there is a statute that could help you, given that it's a shared structure with no oversight.

[pcgeller]

I have talked to the neighbors and the property management company.

I actually have a good relationship with the neighbors that currently live there. When I asked them about the property owner they said that they were able to get his address off of FFX tax record website and sent him a letter about some of the items in disrepair. The landlords response was that it's OK and don't worry about it.

The property management company is very difficult to get a hold of. I dealt with this during the tree fall incident earlier. They still haven't sent someone out to fix the gutters on their side or the roof. Neighbors have also tried getting them out more often with no luck.

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by bmwguydc

Another suggestion would be to contact the housing and development office in your local jurisdiction to see if there is any recourse that they can offer.

Yes, OP contact the city or country housing office, at least to get some advice. This is neglect that can cause substantial damage to your property (i.e.., structural, etc.). Also, standing water, moist walls, etc. can cause black mold which is a carcinogen and a serious health issue.