Its also noteworthy that I managed to STICK it to this guy via the county tax collector. A little background: In my state, owner occupants are allowed to deduct up to $50,000 of their property's assessed value for tax purposes. For example, if your property is assessed at $200,000 and you occupy it for at least 6 months out of the year, you need only pay taxes on $150,000. This is usually referred to as a "homestead deduction".
In any case, as I was "investigating" this issue, I learned that the numbskull landlord was claiming a "homestead deduction" while renting out his property to the rescue nincompoops! I went to the tax collector's office in person and reported him. The tax collector investigated, removed the deduction and went after him for some steeeeep fines! GOTCHA!
Mr. Tax Cheat
9990 whatever Blvd.
Anyplace, FL 32999
RE: Your property
at 9990 whatever Blvd.
November 14, 2011
Dear Sir,
The purpose of this letter is to put you on notice of
several disruptive, tortious, and illegal activities being committed on and
around your property at 9990 whatever Blvd by the tenants
to whom you are supposedly renting.
Over the past 18 months those activities include, but are
not limited to, the following:
·
Numerous pet related offenses including frequent
loud barking of dogs, dogs at large, depositing of dog feces with subsequent
failure to scoop, and destruction of property.
This has resulted in numerous complaints to Animal Control by multiple
parties. The loud animals have
disrupted my work, my sleep and my other interests. Note their doing so is in violation of St.
Johns County ordinance 89-62. I sent your tenants a certified letter a year
ago regarding the issue (attached).
·
Bright lights aimed at my home.
·
Loud music.
·
Inappropriate/unsafe discharging of
firearms. Police were called.
·
Hostile, loud, and belligerent activity aimed at
myself. Your tenants apparently take
issue with my reporting their offenses to authorities, something I have a right
to do. Basically, I have been *screamed
and cursed at* for merely trying to uphold the law and protect my interests.
Juxtapose the above with the fact that I have broken no
laws, committed no torts and have always been outwardly polite to them. Also consider that I am not the sole party
complaining to authorities regarding your tenants.
Therefore it is apparent that:
·
Your tenants are degrading the local environment.
·
Your tenants are committing code violations and torts.
·
Your tenants are disregarding the laws.
·
Your tenants are disregarding the right of others to live in peace.
I believe that the above is of keen interest to you
because:
·
Your tenants are exposing you to lawsuits and other legal issues.
·
Your tenants are exposing you to issues with
your insurance carrier and your lender.
·
Your tenants are exposing you to loss of property value.
Mr. Tax Cheat, you can be held liable in various ways for the
activities of your tenants. Consider the
following:
·
You are enabling the various pet offenses, as
you have a right to revoke or modify your tenant’s pet privileges. If that dog is not vaccinated and/or it bites
someone you are facing serious civil liability.
·
Your insurance carrier will likely take issue
with these various activities. You may
face premium increases or loss of coverage.
·
Your lender will likely take issue with any and
all activity that degrades the value of the property. Refer to your mortgage agreement and any
relevant laws: They may have the right
to “recall” your loan if they have reason to believe the occupant is degrading
the value of the property in any way.
·
The activities outlined above have seriously
degraded my quality of life and imposed numerous costs on myself. I am a computer contractor who works from
home. Your tenants have disrupted my
work numerous times. This is a serious civil liability: I cannot, and will not, allow that to
continue and will take whatever steps
necessary to return peace to my work space and my home.
·
If I am forced to move out over this issue (and
it may come to that) then that creates an additional civil liability in 2 ways:
o The
owner of THIS property now has an actionable damage. She has lost a paying tenant AND she is
required by law to disclose any
“nuisances” to all prospective buyers and tenants, further aggravating that
financial hardship. Furthermore, another
empty house in this neighborhood will further degrade local property values including yours.
o I
would have a right to file for and recover any moving and other costs related
to my relocation.
·
You have already suffered negative exposure in
this situation. Your “loss” of your
property tax homestead deduction is indirectly related to the problems noted
above.
Again, your tenants are drawing significant negative attention that
is only going to become more costly for everyone
the longer it continues.
Mr. Tax Cheat, I insist that you take whatever steps necessary
to cure this problem.
I also insist that you contact me, at my email address
above, with your contact phone number and address.
Regards,
John Q Public
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