I am renting a house with a huge lot next door that belongs to someone else. I used to mow it but it took me hours and it was so hard cuz it has huge logs and boulders and is pretty bumpy. So I quit mowing it and just mowed my front and back yards. I just received a warning from the city that I need to mow it or I will be sent to court. Is this right? What can I do about this?
Answers:
You have absolutely nothing to worry about; assuming this lot in question legally is not part of the house and land you are renting, the lawn in question is of no concern to you. They can haul you into court all they want but I guarantee you they will be wearing egg on their faces when the judge realizes you don't own the land in question nor have you signed anything that legally obligates you to take care of said land.
Assuming they actually do end up taking you to court, walk in prepared with the following: a copy of the rental agreement you have which clearly shows the address in question. Take a full shot photo view of the two properties side by side and a shot of the backyards, etc. Also bring in a copy of who owns the land in question where the house sits.
I don't know how to help, but that sounds CRAZY!! Why can't your neighbour mow their own lawn!
mow it, then send a bill to the city charging them for your services
Any way of finding out who the lot belongs to, and forwarding their details to the court?
Sounds like someone saw you mowing it and figured it was yours.
I would call the office that sent the notice.
I would ask them to investigate the ownership of the property and send them the notice.
you have to go to court and talk to the judge. if you have any proof that you do not own that property then take it with you
Take it to court.. it is not your property, therefore NOT your responsibility. Because you were doing, someone probably assumed it was yours and reported you once you stopped. However, they cannot make you 'keep up' property that is not yours. Who ever owns it, needs to make arrangements to have it taken care of. Bottom line. Good luck!
Wow! I don't know. Are you sure the lot belongs to someone else? My mom lives in Austin and mows her neighbors lawn once in a while. I would talk to your neighbor. Maybe if they called the city, things could be resolved. You might need proof that the property is not your responsibility.
Are you sure that lot does not belong to the landlord?
If it's not your (or your landlord's) property, it's not your responsibility.
that is just wrong!! but why don't you just tell the court that.
how long have you been mowing it?
my recommendation would be to keep mowing it. there is a clause in the US laws that if you use someone else's land and they don't inform you that you need to cease, that their land becomes yours (5-7 years depending on your state).
part of the homestead act. keep mowing it and then it will be your land legally.
or else say it isn't your yard and then the case will be dismissed.
Have you contacted the city to tell then you don't own the property? They should be able to check taxes and find the owner.
However, in Texas if you maintain property that doesn't belong to you for a certain length of time (not sure how long) you can go through steps to legally obtain it.
Go to court and explain its not yours....
Tell them if they want it mowed to do it themselves.
You have no legal rights to mow or make any change on property belonging to others
I started to think this was a joke until I saw you lived in Texas, now I understand.
Call the city, and explain the situation, that you only rent one parcel and not the whole neighborhood. If the high grass or weeds bother them, let them send someone out to cut down the offending grass, or weeds.
Also, call you landlord and see where his property line starts and stops, you may have been a victim of false information, that is, it might belong to your lease or rent agreement.
go to court and show them proof that it is not yours and that should be it.
Sounds like the nosey neighbor syndrome. Somebody saw you doin that and assumed that you owned that piece of land as well and now you are not keeping up "part of your property" which devaluates the neighborhood.
It is not your responsibility(in fact, you are tresspassing) but all the city recieved is this complaint from somebody that used your house address as the location and the city mailed you the warning. You can either let them know, (I would phone down first and try to do it over the phone). Let them figure out the confusion. You are not responsible for it.
Notify the city that this lot does not belong to you. Cities are now doing a beautification thing and are making land owners cut there lawns. In some cities, they will cut it if you don't and then send you a bill for services rendered by the city. If you can find out who owns the property, also send that name with your notification. However it should be very easy for the city to find out who really owns the land through the property tax file.
Depending on the city you are in, you might be able to go on-line and see whos name the property is in. This can be made easier if you know the street address of the property, or lot number.
Print it out and take it with you to court. Also take your property tax records for the property you do have.
It could be that one of your neighbors assumed that it was your property and when you stopped mowing it, they reported you to the city.
you have no obligation. they do not know the facts and can only inconvenience you. call the inspectors department and explain it to them.
They probably assumed it was yours because you have mowed it before. It is complete crap that they are hounding you about it. I would fine out the owners of the property before you go to court, if you dont already know them. I think you willl get out of it. It is not your responsibility and the city has no ground to cite you. If needed get a surveyor to get property lline information. Good luck.
it could be the city has a property index number that shows your house and vacant land as the same parcel,,,,,,,or a section of civil code requires adjacent resident to attend to this,,,,,need to search for pertinent laws,and and write the city mgr about this.owner probly owns both properties %26 didn't tell you of an undisclosed legal obligation in the lease agreement,,,,,you might need an attorney,,,there are lowcost attys that you pay 25 bucks a month to represent you,can findem on net
Go to court and explain you don't own the property. They will research it and find the real owner.
First get the deed signed over to you , to the property next store - frame it - then start mowing.
Are you sure that what you think of as your neighbours yard isn't part of the property you rent? If your neighbour owns the property does he also own your property? Do you have use of that property? Some things for you to check up on.
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