Hi everyone,

One of my neighbors is in his 60's and disabled (missing an arm). He lives in a rental property that is basically a slum. It's a 500 sq ft shotgun house from the 40s that is in an advanced state of rot and decay.

The house has a water leak, rotted side boards, crumbling foundation, and I can occasionally smell urine and sewage coming out of the house from the street when walking by. I can't believe the house hasn't been condemned.

I found the landlord, but he's totally contempt to rent out this god awful house.

I contacted the city through 311, but they just fine him for grass being too long.

I'm no expert, but it seems like there should be some minimum standard of what the landlord is allowed to rent, or some form of "tenant's rights" that force the landlord to fix up the property. At least make it safe to live in.

The tenant is very poor, and refuses to get help himself. I'm trying to find groups or legal entities that will advocate for him, or at least put some pressure on the landlord to do something other than mow the grass once a month and watch this dude live in his slum.

Does anyone know other groups I can reach out to that will advocate for the tenant?

Hi everyone,

My neighbor in Independence Heights lives in squalor, by his own choosing. He rents a rundown bungalow, and both him and the landlord are totally unconcerned about his total neglect of the property. The house is in advanced stages of rot and decay, and there's a constant flow of roaches and fleas from his 6 dogs that I have to combat.

Recently, the issue has gotten much worse, and his most recent decisions are affecting my health and ability to use my own property.

I went in his house about 5 years ago, and even then it reeked of urine and feces. But until recently, he at least kept his windows closed so we couldn't smell it from our property.

Last month, he decided he didn't want to pay for A/C anymore, so he has opened all of his windows and installed box fans in the windows, which blow the urine/feces smell into my yard. I literally gag walking from the garage to the house, and cannot be outside in my front yard, period.

I have asked him to close the windows and even offered to pay for part of his electric bill to cover the A/C, to no avail.

I have filed several 311 reports concerning the odor, the decay of the house, and some other things - but they haven't really been much help...when the city shows up, he quickly closes the windows so they can't detect anything.

I'm trying to learn of any other city or local resources that can help me with a resolution here. I'm hoping not to have to sue the guy, because he is absolutely the type that would retaliate.