Private road

[Kyle D.]

I own two duplexes on the end of the private street the first two duplexes are owned by a slumlord so he does nothing. The asphalt road is very old and is about ready for resurfacing. I can never get ahold of the other landlord when ever I do he's not intested in talking to me.  So how do I go about having the road resurfaced. I will pay half and he will pay half. Is there a way to force him? There's massive potholes on his part that I have already paid to have fixed because it's ruining my tenants cars. The street is mostly gravel cause it all broke away. So I somehow have to get him to pay half. How do I do this? The street connects to a city street. Thank you 

[Marcia Maynard]

Offer to buy his places. Find out more about him and his mentality. He may be a "slumlord" because he is tired of landlording and has let his properties deteriorate, along with the road. He may have let his property fall into disrepair because he doesn't have the money or expertise to do what needs to be done. If you own it all, you can control what happens to the road.

Before you negotiate with him, do what you can to get on his good side. Whether negotiating to buy his properties or negotiating to share responsibility for the the upkeep of the road, you will do better if your relationship is not adversarial.