Two houses down from me lives….well, I’m not quite sure, frankly. As long as I’ve been living here, I’ve never witnessed anyone living there. Other neighbours have given me vague stories of an elderly woman, but all seem to have differing stories on her current whereabouts. Regardless, what she has left behind is a hideously unkempt property that makes me cringe every time I drive by.
The driveway has been completely consumed by weeds. And not just one type of weed, a whole range of Toronto’s finest, I’m sure. The grass is almost three feet tall and kind of limps to one side. I could have sworn I saw an antelope grazing in there the other day. There also happens to be one very large, and very dead oak tree that threatens the neighbours’ houses on both sides every time there’s a gust of wind.
Two Simple Tips:
Tip #1: Don’t take matters into your own hands by trying to maintain the property. Many people get so fed up, they just want to cut the grass themselves. This is very noble, but can lead to even greater problems. With the property in such rough condition, hidden dangers may be present that you simply cannot see. If you get hurt working on their property, or accidentally damage their property, you could be on the hook for the cost of remedying the problem. Worse, you could be charged with trespassing. (I know…it’s sad but true). Remember, some people can be very litigious these days!
Tip #2: Contact the City of Toronto. Homeowners have certain responsibilities in regards to maintaining their properties. In the above situation, one neighbour called the City of Toronto to inform them of the situation. Subsequently, there were several violation notices posted on the front door. One was in regards to the need for tree removal, and the other was for the lawn.
The City will usually give the homeowner two weeks to respond to the violation notice. If the work is not completed by then, they complete the work for the homeowners and then charge it to their municipal tax bill. And let me tell you…it’s not at the price that little Jimmy down the street charges you to cut the lawn. Remember there was a report a few months back about the TDSB and maintenance prices? They charged over $100 to screw in a pencil sharpener. I’ll say it’s about on par with that kind of pricing. And also, they’re in no hurry to finish the job in an hour.
If you plan on leaving the country for a long time, be sure to make plans to maintain your property. Not only because it can save you some money but because it’s the right thing to do. Having a number of unmaintained properties brings down the curb appeal of the other houses on the street. Dead trees with overhanging branches can cause serious damage. If you’re trying to sell your house, having an abandoned house next door can be problematic. But above all else, it’s just downright ugly…