Dunedin Tries To Steal Elderly Man's House Over Uncut Grass (Gulfport: movers, houses)

[dothetwist]

Originally Posted by Taksan

Anyone who lives in a area the requires them to cut their grass ( which is ridiculous in the first place... nobody has a right to dictate how long a persons grass should be ) kind of should know what they are getting into.

Tall grass will attract snakes and rats and the lot will become a health hazard.

[McFrostyJ]

Where we live currently (not in Florida) you get a notice in the mail and if the grass problem isn't corrected in two weeks or if you haven't called to make other arrangements, then the city sends someone out to cut your grass and sends you a bill. Usually like $100 or something like that, depending on the size of your lot. While $100 is MUCH more than what it would cost to pay for someone to cut the grass, it seems reasonable. The main concern here is fire.

[BNBR]

Originally Posted by McFrostyJ

Where we live currently (not in Florida) you get a notice in the mail and if the grass problem isn't corrected in two weeks or if you haven't called to make other arrangements, then the city sends someone out to cut your grass and sends you a bill. Usually like $100 or something like that, depending on the size of your lot. While $100 is MUCH more than what it would cost to pay for someone to cut the grass, it seems reasonable. The main concern here is fire.

The city shouldn't be in the business of cutting lawns for people.

[mph101]

Originally Posted by BNBR

The city shouldn't be in the business of cutting lawns for people.

I've seen the city of St Petersburg do it. After several code violations they have come in with a parks maintenance crew and cut the high weeds and charge the property owner a big one plus the code fine. Failure to settle up slaps a lien on the property.

To me that is logical and helps maintain the appearance of the area and reduces possible sanitary or safety risk . Once people see a neglected or trashy area it seems to become a easier place to throw more junk.

[TBMorgan]

Originally Posted by mph101

I've seen the city of St Petersburg do it. After several code violations they have come in with a parks maintenance crew and cut the high weeds and charge the property owner a big one plus the code fine. Failure to settle up slaps a lien on the property.

To me that is logical and helps maintain the appearance of the area and reduces possible sanitary or safety risk . Once people see a neglected or trashy area it seems to become a easier place to throw more junk.

Good to hear. St Pete has always come across to me as a progressive city in tune w/ its citizens. I visit usually every week to do something (Rays, Dali, market, running the marina, yoga, etc). It is really thriving right now.

[McFrostyJ]

Originally Posted by BNBR

The city shouldn't be in the business of cutting lawns for people.

While I want to agree with you, I do see the need for it. Plus, they do give you a fair chance to take care of the problem ourselves.

We currently live in Oregon, have had a few bad fire years lately and this years is coming earlier then ever before. Already this year people have lost homes in areas surrounded by brush due to fire.

We knew about the city rules before buying here.
EVERYONE should look into what the rules are BEFORE buying.

[Ride The WAVE]

There is no Judge in The State of Florida that would rule in favor of this kind of property seizure without first ordering arbitration, first.


Without this, it would constitute unreasonable search and seizure.


After Court ordered arbitration will determine the Judge's imposition of resolution.


The property owner may in fact be a scumbag, but scumbags must have due process as well in The State of Florida and in the United States of America.


The Judge will likely look at the fines anyway as exorbitant and excessive in any case.


Laws must be fair and just. The defendant also has liability as well.

[BNBR]

Originally Posted by mph101

I've seen the city of St Petersburg do it. After several code violations they have come in with a parks maintenance crew and cut the high weeds and charge the property owner a big one plus the code fine. Failure to settle up slaps a lien on the property.

To me that is logical and helps maintain the appearance of the area and reduces possible sanitary or safety risk . Once people see a neglected or trashy area it seems to become a easier place to throw more junk.

I'd support this. But with a fine big enough to make sure it's not a repeat offense. Someone else said "$100" or whatever, and that I don't agree with. Maybe a $100 charge for cutting the grass and a $500+ fine.

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by BNBR

I'd support this. But with a fine big enough to make sure it's not a repeat offense. Someone else said "$100" or whatever, and that I don't agree with. Maybe a $100 charge for cutting the grass and a $500+ fine.

This is the quandary that HOAs have as well, and why the law limits fines to $1000 (for HOAs).

You get to a point of diminishing returns when you rack up large fines. People get overwhelmed by them after a point and just toss in the towel. A big hammer is not the ideal means to deal with this.

Liens are a lousy way to do it as well, which is why you won’t find a lot of places doing them. Liens have to be managed, expire after 10 years, have to be renewed, and don’t pay out until the property owner sells.

So how do you deal with it?

After a fixed period of time and all the requisite notices, if there’s no satisfaction you hire a contractor or use your resources to correct the situation, as in this one, you do what we call a “force mow”. Then you take the fines and fees and deduct them from their next property tax bill. If they don’t pay the fines and fees, they get deducted from the property tax payment, and if an outstanding balance remains, it has to be satisfied or the property goes into a tax sale after the required time is up to settle.

At least that’s what I would do.

In the case of an HOA, you file a foreclosure notice on the property. Banks don’t like other entities laying claim to what’s theirs, so they’ll often pressure owners to settle up. This costs money, but the violator is the one who ultimately foots the bill anyway.

RM

[LorrieG]

The fact someone mentioned homestead property is a joke.
You give away your personal information for the world to profit from in exchange for an exemption?
Let us know how you profit from homestead exemption?

Why didnt any of the lovely citizens of the town mow the guys lawn for free.
If you didnt like looking at it, you can mow it.
Thats not a trespass, the only excuse is you living your miserable life complaining that you dont want him as a neighbor.
Good neighbors yall are i bet