@dailydog wrote:
I would have probably put really pungent odor and not dead body comment. I have to wonder (maybe naiive me) that maybe a mouse or rat could have died and is causing the smell?
@walesmaven wrote:
I wrote a long response but when I tried to post, IT got erased and I got an error message. How ironic, because it was about a similar experience that I had, on video, in Roanoke, 10 years ago. Turned out that the on-site manager kept that apartment (A former crime scene) to show to people she did not think "belonged there." I did not say anything on the video, but did in the comment. The MSC owner told me about the client's reaction to finding out that the manager "just thought it best that like live with like," The client fired the manager, who "looked like" me, but , apparently not like the tenants. (During a work/school day, it is not unusual to see very few or no tenants during a tour.) I too know that smell.
@walesmaven wrote:
Birdy,
As a former real estate agent, I can tell you that this sort of thing is all too common.
My sister did her first apartment shop and asked, "Are there many children in this community." The LA answered, "Oh, don't worry. We keep all of the people with children in the two buildings in the back." (Family status is a fair housing "protected category."
@walesmaven wrote:
My RE agent experience began more than 25 years after national fair housing laws went into effect and closer to 35 years after the ones for the counties where I worked went into effect. Buyers, sellers and agent, to this day, are blatantly violation those laws. Fortunately, less so in the DMV region than in most places. But, yes, it is still an issue here, as well.
@sandyf wrote:
My city is seriously thinking about passing a law to make it illegal to keep any house or apartment unoccupied for longer than a short period of time...i think 3 months. That includes private single family houses where the person possibly owns 2 properties or more or is out of the country and is not currently staying in the local one. I will have to remember this dead person smell scenario so in case I ever leave for a few months I will not have to rent my house out while I am gone.....Can I get some body rot perfume spray? This law is to get rid of homelessness by putting more real estate on the rental market. I am not sure where they come up with these ideas from but I am expecting if it passes we will quickly turn into society where every one is spying on and reporting on every one else.
Keep your eye out for when you hear a famous hollywood actor is out of the country on a shoot for a few months. Then you can put on your worst clothing and legally rent their house from them. Not sure yet if you will need to lower your rent to where the city can afford to rent your place for a homeless person to live in while you are gone.
@ceasesmith wrote:
Sandy, that's absolutely outrageous.
Do you, like, live in California?
@walesmaven wrote:
Usually, such laws are intended to prevent unoccupied properties from becoming deteriorating hide-outs for squatters, or worse. DC is just starting to deal with about 2000 abandoned homes where the owns pay the taxes, but let the property decay and become a health and/or safety hazard. There IS a law on the books, permitting the city to confiscate the property if the registered owner does nothing fater three court demands for remediation. But, in recent years, in spite of a huge shortage of housing, that was not enforced.
If/when, the city takes possession, it is required to repudiate and/or renovate and place the property on the market to individuals or families or moderate income who are already DC residents, and to offer help with loans and closing costs.
I would wonder if the law cited by the Sandy has any such provisions.