What should I do if my no one has lived in the other side of our duplex for almost 10 years and we’d like to buy it?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What should I do if my no one has lived in the other side of our duplex for almost 10 years and we’d like to buy it?
Me and my wife are renting out a basement in the twin house. I’ve found out that no one lives in the second half of the twin. We’ve asked our landlords and they told us that the owner died years ago somewhere overseas and there are relatives who also lives overseas and they never respond to any attempt of communication with our landlords. The property is going to be ruined sooner or later by the poultry. We would like to buy this property for a reduced price, but how if no one is selling it out?
Asked on September 3, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
All you can do is try to find the owners and contact them yourself--there is no way to acquire property privately ownd unless the owner chooses to sell to you. You can try to "enlist" the power of your municipality in finding and pressuring them if there are code violations--e.g. health or building violations; you mention something about poultry who are ruining the property?--since if there are, the city may also reach out to them, levy fines, and generally possibly help the owners understand that maybe they should sell, if they cannot or will not maintain the property.
Other than that, keep you eyes open for any signs the propety is foreclosed upon for not paying taxes or mortgages; if it is, you may be able to acquire it from the bank or city.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.