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Updated over 9 years ago,
Fire damaged town house units - property rights
I live in Tulsa and just bought two town house properties in the same development. This development is basically a collections of duplexes and quadplexes that were sold as individual units.
I bought a single unit that is part of a quadplex with fire damage. Think two duplexes back to back where the backyards share a common fence line. There are two driveways on each street. One of the units in the back side caught fire and the unit to its side sustained damage as well. The two units on the other side, mine and the attached neighbor next to me are fine. She is a 16 year tenant and only complained of some unresolved water damage on the back wall from firemen putting out the fire. My unit shows no sign of fire, smoke or water damage.
Even though I don't own any of the fire damaged units, do I have any property rights since I have a unit that is directly attached to them? My interest is in helping this area get fixed up as these units have been fire damaged and vacant for 2 years now. One unit is foreclosed and owned by Chase but in the process of getting transferred to HUD....since 2013....to get their guarantee money from the government. The other property is just vacant with no sign of foreclosure. The HOA fees are not being paid.
I am working with code enforcement and the HOA to see what options I have to possibly buy, take over, sue etc to get these units fixed.
Anyone familiar with this topic able to give advice? I am willing to buy the units and complete the rehab provided the numbers work. Else, I want to try and compel the current owners to do something. What are my options?