This sounds like the plot from "Pacific Heights," where a diabolically evil Michael Keaton runs his landlord ragged and drives him just short of nuts. But that's California, which is probably about as close to Italy as the USofA gets.
And people wonder why I don't want to be a landlord....
Technically ("legally") I am not supposed to be where I am. Toni died intestate, and the house cannot be legally occupied. Given what her dogs have done to the place, no one would actually want to live in it. So I occupy a 30' X 8' trailer behind the poll barn/garage, pay the utilities, minimally maintain the yard, while her brother's estate continues to pay the mortgage (on a house that no one can legally or humanly live in.)
By the bye, the chief of police in town knows who I am and where I am, and doesn't care. He once commented that if an inspector came through it would be an issue. But I noted that I could just say the trailer was my office (which it, also, is) and deflect. But it doesn't change the fact that I'm living by the most chimerical of threads.
But, per Jesus' foreskin -- I can't stop laughing every time I hear that story. 'Cause, yeah, the Rabbi and Mohel look at one another and with a thoughtful nod agree, "Better save this one. It might be important."
Your story is hilarious. This happened to an Italian friend of mine many years ago and I, was, not surprisingly, appalled. Coming from an American perspective and as a landlord, I found it impossible to believe. If I hadn’t known the owner so well, I would not have believed it. My friend had inherited a vacation property in a seaside town that squatters had already moved into, and yes, it took years to go through the courts. All the while she had to continue paying the utilities and property taxes or increase her risk of losing it to the squatters. If she also had to pay a mortgage, she likely would have lost the house. I just read that the Italian law regarding squatting changed in 2022, but I have no idea if that has helped.
I came upon your story when doing a search on the subject. You make some good points about the math… U.S. rental increases being disproportionate to wages, etc. In 2023, I think it’s more disproportionate than ever, unfortunately.
What a wonderful story, I had no idea. Can I narrate for my podcast?
This sounds like the plot from "Pacific Heights," where a diabolically evil Michael Keaton runs his landlord ragged and drives him just short of nuts. But that's California, which is probably about as close to Italy as the USofA gets.
And people wonder why I don't want to be a landlord....
Technically ("legally") I am not supposed to be where I am. Toni died intestate, and the house cannot be legally occupied. Given what her dogs have done to the place, no one would actually want to live in it. So I occupy a 30' X 8' trailer behind the poll barn/garage, pay the utilities, minimally maintain the yard, while her brother's estate continues to pay the mortgage (on a house that no one can legally or humanly live in.)
By the bye, the chief of police in town knows who I am and where I am, and doesn't care. He once commented that if an inspector came through it would be an issue. But I noted that I could just say the trailer was my office (which it, also, is) and deflect. But it doesn't change the fact that I'm living by the most chimerical of threads.
But, per Jesus' foreskin -- I can't stop laughing every time I hear that story. 'Cause, yeah, the Rabbi and Mohel look at one another and with a thoughtful nod agree, "Better save this one. It might be important."
Your story is hilarious. This happened to an Italian friend of mine many years ago and I, was, not surprisingly, appalled. Coming from an American perspective and as a landlord, I found it impossible to believe. If I hadn’t known the owner so well, I would not have believed it. My friend had inherited a vacation property in a seaside town that squatters had already moved into, and yes, it took years to go through the courts. All the while she had to continue paying the utilities and property taxes or increase her risk of losing it to the squatters. If she also had to pay a mortgage, she likely would have lost the house. I just read that the Italian law regarding squatting changed in 2022, but I have no idea if that has helped.
I came upon your story when doing a search on the subject. You make some good points about the math… U.S. rental increases being disproportionate to wages, etc. In 2023, I think it’s more disproportionate than ever, unfortunately.