Legal Recommendations for an Abandoned House next to Ours

hi, we bought a house in BedStuy next to an abandoned brownstone. With the crazy winter, there have been water damages in our basement from the side wall with this abandoned house. The house is still in litigation and we could only find out that wells fargo had the loan on the house, and the company who owns the house went bankrupt (source: ACRIS). Has anybody dealt with a similar situation or would have any recommendation to find out more information and get in touch with the owner, before our house gets totally damaged because of this one next door… thanks a lot for your help!!!! Fanny

roemerf

in Lawyers and legal service 10 years and 11 months ago

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ventilated | 10 years and 11 months ago

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In addition to advice above, especially slopefarm’s, you might want to read this article: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20131122/bed-stuy/city-demands-bed-stuy-building-owners-repair-unsafe-homes and fill out this form: https://www1.nyc.gov/apps/311universalintake/form.htm?serviceName=DOB+Abandoned+Building+Not+Closed

slopefarm | 10 years and 11 months ago

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I would do all of the above and the following: 1\. Assume nothing will be done for a while. Put whatever you are storing in the basement away from the shared wall and up on pallets. 2\. Keep records of everything — correspondence, pictures of any water in your basement and any damage, keep a diary, etc. 3\. it may be futile, but put the bank and the record title holders on notice that there is a problem and ask that the property be repaired. Send the same letter to both, cc’d, and ask who is responsible at present for taking care of the property. Keep record of your correspendence and any responses. Send periodic follow-ups to both. 4\. Find out where the property ownership is being litigated in court. is it in State court foreclosure proceeding (Kings county) or federal bankruptcy court. You can search at each court’s clerk’s office using the name of the record title holder as listed in ACRIS. It is possible you will learn a lot about where this stands. ACRIS won’t show all that. Not worth hiring a lawyer unless you’ve got damage well into the five figures, or someone wiling to just send a shot across the bow “my client is considering all legal remedies . . . ” etc. (But that rarely works without follow up, which is costly if you have a lawyer do it.)

timber | 10 years and 11 months ago

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I would contact the local city councilperson and/or the community board

Arkady | 10 years and 11 months ago

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You could try going to EPA (phone 311 or go on line to NYC.gov) to get a ‘Hazardous Condition’ violation which I think would compel one of the parties to deal w/ it.