In the southwest Florida coastal city of Cape Coral, residents of an idyllic neighborhood are fed up — and they say one vacant home is to blame.
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The property in question has become a local eyesore, with overgrown vegetation, flimsy and open screens, and disconnected gutters that make the home look more like a haunted house than a coastal getaway.
“It’s getting to the point where you leave places like this, it gets overrun by Mother Nature, she’ll claim it back, and she’s starting to,” Karl Grabner, whose property sits next to the home that has neighbors seeing red, told television station WINK.
And they’re not just talking about appearances. Residents told WINK the home is attracting the wrong kind of attention, with one claiming he’d heard about a break-in. What was presumably once a quiet, well-kept block now feels unstable — with property values and community morale at risk.
A home neglected, and a city finally responds
One neighbor, Frank Tormenia, told WINK that he had heard someone broke into the home and took appliances, though the station couldn’t confirm that with police.
"My neighbor … was taking the branches and stacked them up here. I says, ‘Why are you doing this?’ He goes, ‘I’m tired of looking at it,’” said Tormenia.
But the good news is the city is finally stepping in. According to WINK’s June 12 report, a special magistrate found the owner guilty of three code violations, citing unsafe conditions, a lack of proper screening and unsightly pool conditions. They were given less than two weeks to make repairs.
The news station said it was unable to reach the realtor selling the house or identify the owner of the property.
The hidden cost of abandoned homes
When a home sits vacant and neglected, the damage isn’t limited to peeling paint or an overgrown lawn. These properties can become magnets for crime, deterring would-be buyers and inviting safety concerns.
Even the perception of abandonment can weigh on a neighborhood. Nearby homeowners may see their own property values drop, while feeling the social and emotional strain of living next to what essentially becomes a community liability.
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Break-ins, pest infestations, and mold are common consequences of unattended homes. And in storm-prone regions like Florida, a vacant, unmaintained house can pose serious structural risks to neighboring properties.
For residents living near a neglected home, knowing your rights and options is important. Residents should report issues promptly through the city’s complaint channels and document concerns with photos or written statements.
In Cape Coral, city officials put this homeowner on the clock.
What homeowners need to know about leaving a home vacant
Life happens. Sometimes you need to move, travel, or delay renovations. But leaving a property unattended comes with real responsibilities. Most cities require that homeowners maintain basic upkeep, like mowing lawns, securing doors and windows, and ensuring there’s no structural danger.
Failure to comply can lead to city intervention. Owners of vacant properties should check local codes about property maintenance, arrange for regular landscaping and inspections, and stay in contact with local authorities to ensure the property hasn’t been completely abandoned.
"When a municipality receives a code violation complaint, a city inspector will generally visit the property to verify if the complaint is valid. If it is, the property owner will be notified about what corrections are needed and how long they have to make them. If the property owner fails to take the proper steps to reach code compliance, monetary assessments and penalties may be imposed, and eventually the property may even be condemned by the government," said the Owners’ Counsel of America, adding that a property being condemned could "possibly lead to an actual demolition of the structure."
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
