Neighborhood Tired of Maintaining Vacant House

A group of neighbors is questioning how much responsibility falls on the community to maintain a house that has been vacant for two years. The property sits at the end of a cul-de-sac where parking is limited.

The homeowner, a woman in her 50s, moved into the home with her husband about 15 years ago. Her husband died suddenly almost two years ago. She subsequently moved out of state to live with relatives, leaving the house empty.

Five cars currently occupy the property. Two are parked in the street in front of the house, two are in the driveway, and one is in the side yard. The neighbors note that the taillights on the vehicles are broken. One car has a window down, allowing children to enter the vehicle. The residents have asked the homeowner's children to sell or move the vehicles, but no action has been taken.

The homeowner's son visits the property about once a month to collect mail. Bill collectors have also visited to ask for contact information. The utilities for the house are not being paid. When the neighbors called the homeowner's daughter, she suggested they use her brother's phone number to reach the family.

The resident writing to the advice column has been performing maintenance on the vacant lot. The neighbor raked leaves in the fall and watered the roses in the summer. Other residents regularly pick up litter that blows into the yard. The resident is older than the former homeowner and does not want to continue tending to two yards.

Abigail Van Buren, who writes the Dear Abby column, advised the neighbor to stop performing free yard work. She stated that sympathy for the bereaved is appropriate, but after two years, the situation has reached a limit. Van Buren recommended reporting the abandoned cars to the police immediately because they present a safety concern.

Regarding the creditors and utilities, Van Buren said the neighbors should provide the son's contact information. This is not a strict responsibility, but it will stop the bill collectors from bothering the neighbors. Van Buren suggested making a detailed list of all unsightly concerns and reporting them to the city. She predicted that municipal fines would likely prompt the property to be cleaned up or sold quickly.