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General Landlording & Rental Properties

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Alan Asriants
Agent
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia, PA
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Bus Stop on my Property - Littering ISSUE

Alan Asriants
Agent
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia, PA
Posted Jul 8 2024, 16:55

Hello I'm not sure if anyone has run into the situation, but it is most likely unique to the city of Philadelphia. 

I have a property that is located on a somewhat busy street. It is a corner unit and there is a septa bus stop there. It's great in terms of location, but the main issue that I have is that there is no public trashcan for the bus stop.

This means that people are constantly littering around my property, and I am forced to pick up all of their trash. Installing a camera seems like a good idea, but it won't really stop the issue in my opinion. 

Having a good sanitation system, and a city that cares about having a clean environment would be a great start.

Unfortunately, after contacting the city and local groups that claim to want to make the city a beautiful place do not want to help put up a public trashcan.

My last resource is contacting SEPTA and asking them. I will be reaching out to them, and will update this post on what they mention.

Also, in the city of Philadelphia, if someone dumped trash onto your property and you reported the owner of the property will be the one who gets fined.

Pretty backwards no?

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Matthew Paul#2 Contractors Contributor
  • Severna Park, MD
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Matthew Paul#2 Contractors Contributor
  • Severna Park, MD
Replied Jul 8 2024, 17:00

Even if they put a trash can , who would empty it ? 

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Alan Asriants
Agent
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia, PA
720
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Alan Asriants
Agent
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia, PA
Replied Jul 10 2024, 10:51
Quote from @Matthew Paul:

Even if they put a trash can , who would empty it ? 


 Really the city or SEPTA should. I don't think it is that crazy to have public trashcans at Bus Stops. Seems really normal...

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Matthew Paul#2 Contractors Contributor
  • Severna Park, MD
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Matthew Paul#2 Contractors Contributor
  • Severna Park, MD
Replied Jul 10 2024, 11:54
Quote from @Alan Asriants:
Quote from @Matthew Paul:

Even if they put a trash can , who would empty it ? 


 Really the city or SEPTA should. I don't think it is that crazy to have public trashcans at Bus Stops. Seems really normal...


 You are talking about government and using the word " Normal"  ?   

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Greg M.#5 General Landlording & Rental Properties Contributor
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Los Angeles, CA
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Greg M.#5 General Landlording & Rental Properties Contributor
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Los Angeles, CA
Replied Jul 10 2024, 12:43
Quote from @Alan Asriants:

Unfortunately, after contacting the city and local groups that claim to want to make the city a beautiful place do not want to help put up a public trashcan.

Who are you contacting at the city? If it's just some generic city department, forget about it. Find the elected official that represents your area and contact them. If that doesn't work, show up to a public city council meeting with a plastic bag filled with the litter. You'll get attention. 

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Alan Asriants
Agent
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia, PA
720
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Alan Asriants
Agent
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia, PA
Replied Jul 10 2024, 14:02
Quote from @Greg M.:
Quote from @Alan Asriants:

Unfortunately, after contacting the city and local groups that claim to want to make the city a beautiful place do not want to help put up a public trashcan.

Who are you contacting at the city? If it's just some generic city department, forget about it. Find the elected official that represents your area and contact them. If that doesn't work, show up to a public city council meeting with a plastic bag filled with the litter. You'll get attention. 


 I frickin love it. I talked to a buddy of mine who recommended going to the local rep. Thank you for this

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Alan Asriants
Agent
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia, PA
720
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1,043
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Alan Asriants
Agent
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia, PA
Replied Jul 10 2024, 14:03
Quote from @Matthew Paul:
Quote from @Alan Asriants:
Quote from @Matthew Paul:

Even if they put a trash can , who would empty it ? 


 Really the city or SEPTA should. I don't think it is that crazy to have public trashcans at Bus Stops. Seems really normal...


 You are talking about government and using the word " Normal"  ?   


 Lol exactly... the sad truth

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Chris Seveney
Pro Member
#1 All Forums Contributor
  • Investor
  • Virginia
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Chris Seveney
Pro Member
#1 All Forums Contributor
  • Investor
  • Virginia
Replied Jul 10 2024, 16:48

@Alan Asriants

Septa issue - I would contact them and maybe put up cameras to show them.

Also could you put up a fence

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Eric Greenberg
  • Investor
  • Philadelphia, PA
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Eric Greenberg
  • Investor
  • Philadelphia, PA
Replied Jul 11 2024, 05:03

I would talk to your local rep, clean streets, septa. 
But most likely you may put out your own trash can. Hopefully the location of the can will get dumped without having to do anything 

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Alan Asriants
Agent
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia, PA
720
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Alan Asriants
Agent
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia, PA
Replied Jul 12 2024, 06:13
Quote from @Eric Greenberg:

I would talk to your local rep, clean streets, septa. 
But most likely you may put out your own trash can. Hopefully the location of the can will get dumped without having to do anything 


 I contacted my local rep, see where that take me. 

Sucks to have to pay $500 refuse fee and still have this issue...

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Melanie P.
Pro Member
  • Rental Property Investor
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Melanie P.
Pro Member
  • Rental Property Investor
Replied Jul 12 2024, 19:56

Yes, the property owner is fined for having trash on their property. Even when someone else dumps it there it's our responsibility to remove it. 

Place a trash can next to the bus stop and see how full it is after a week or a month. I have a feeling the trash you're seeing today will still be littered even with a conspicuous trash receptacle. Good to read Filthadelphia hasn't changed much.

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Alan Asriants
Agent
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia, PA
720
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Alan Asriants
Agent
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia, PA
Replied Jul 14 2024, 16:52
Quote from @Melanie P.:

Yes, the property owner is fined for having trash on their property. Even when someone else dumps it there it's our responsibility to remove it. 

Place a trash can next to the bus stop and see how full it is after a week or a month. I have a feeling the trash you're seeing today will still be littered even with a conspicuous trash receptacle. Good to read Filthadelphia hasn't changed much.

Sadly in many ways no... I will be likely putting up my own trashcan. We will see what happens

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Melanie P.
Pro Member
  • Rental Property Investor
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Melanie P.
Pro Member
  • Rental Property Investor
Replied Jul 16 2024, 17:56

@Alan Asriants Please post an update. Once you have leases renewing you can make emptying the garbage you put out part of the yard maintenance for the tenants to complete.

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