For some reason, this story does not surprise me coming out of Terry McAuliffe's state.

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Couple fixes up abandoned home they don’t own, landowners want them out



WAVY
Published: October 20, 2017, 5:28 pm

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) — A family in York County is fighting to stay in a home that’s technically not theirs. They moved in while it was abandoned, putting in time and money to fix it up.

Now they are faced with an ultimatum: They have to leave.

In York County, along Lightfoot Road, a brick rancher needed some love.

“I care about this county and I care about how it looks,” Hollie Curbow said.

Curbow and Chris Canipe worked for weeks to make that house a home.

“Yea I’ve been mowing the grass every day since we’ve been here,” Canipe said.

There’s only one problem with this happy home — it’s not theirs.

“Oh it’s neglected,” Curbow said.

For the last year, Chris and Hollie saw several abandoned houses on Lightfoot Road. They documented their find on their YouTube channel. The brick rancher looked even worse on the inside.

“It was completely covered in filth, old food from refrigerators, even maggots,” Curbow said.

In September they moved in and got to work. First, they made the inside livable and even got cable and internet. Everything went according to plan — until last Sunday.

That’s when someone who claimed to own the property showed up with York County police and an ultimatum.

“They said be out of this house by Sunday at 5,” Curbow said.

Norfolk, Virginia, TV station WAVY looked into the property records. York County tax assessor records show it’s owned by Lightfoot Development Company and the taxes are paid.

“We already put thousands of dollars into this place, fixing their code violations,” Curbow said.

We called a property attorney to ask: Do the Chris and Hollie have a right to stay here?

The attorney said in Virginia there are no “squatters’ rights.” This is trespassing, but it could take a court order to remove them.

“My question is if the owner doesn’t care about the property and he’s just letting it rot, then who is the victim of us moving in here and taking care of this place?” Canipe asked. “I mean I love this house. I love it here, I love this property.”

It may not be Chris and Hollie’s legally, but they consider it home.

WAVY tried to call the landowners. However, every number associated with the company has been disconnected.

quote:

Originally posted by callibird:
This is trespassing, but it could take a court order to remove them.

Or a couple fellas with baseball bats and a firearm or two. GTFO yesterday.

quote:

]“My question is if the owner doesn’t care about the property and he’s just letting it rot, then who is the victim of us moving in here and taking care of this place?” Canipe asked. “I mean I love this house. I love it here, I love this property.”

It may not be Chris and Hollie’s legally, but they consider it home.

Gee, I wonder how they voted?

There is a traditional area of common law that enables abandoned property to be brought back into active productive use (under new ownership).

Adverse possession.

There are specific requirements. These people don't meet them, sorry.

Is it THEIR house?

No.

Get out, and stop whining. Stupid of them to spend the time/money on renovating somebody ELSE's property. . .

Hmm, there's a 6 million dollar mansion for sale across the street from me. Been on the market for years. Maybe I'll just happen over and sweep the floor or something...

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:
Hmm, there's a 6 million dollar mansion for sale across the street from me. Been on the market for years. Maybe I'll just happen over and sweep the floor or something...

As long as you really really like it and want to stay more than anything in the whole wide world I don't see how they could possibly make you leave.

quote:

Originally posted by GregY:
There is a traditional area of common law that enables abandoned property to be brought back into active productive use (under new ownership).

Adverse possession.

There are specific requirements. These people don't meet them, sorry.

Yup.

Looks like the statutory period for open and notorious possession (as against the actual owner) in VA is 15 years.

Story says "In September they moved in." They are not even close to meeting the requirements for AP in VA.

I looked up that stretch of road. Last Google maps update was from 2016, and most of the brick ranch homes I saw had for sale signs on them, most of the surrounding available property is offered as commercial.

Makes sense someone would hold onto a property in an area that is slowly becoming commercial waiting for the highest bidder.

These two rainbows were just idiots. Waste money on renovations, waste money on court fees.

But they *really* love it...

I'm almost sure I know where this house is. It's a few miles from where we live. I think but not absolutely sure it was rezoned to commercial. Just going by the other real estate signs in the area that state that. It's just a very short road. Almost everything on the little stretch of road is abandoned except for a little strip mall. Apparently there has been zero interest in developing it as there is a lot of the little strip malls built nearby and they for the most part are sitting empty. The house in question is a dump. Just sitting there waiting for someone to buy it and tear it down.
They did not put thousands of dollars in that house and they did not mow the yard everyday.

On a side note, is there a legal condition that makes a house "abandoned"? And why would it even matter? It's not your house! Someone owns a house next to me that hasn't been lived in for 6 or 8 years. Is it abandoned? Only activity is the yard gets mowed, and the owner taped a "Sleeping, do not disturb" sign on the front door to discourage people from from making rental inquires.

GTFO.

quote:

Originally posted by callibird:
They moved in while it was abandoned...

We once arrested two guys and in the case report I wrote that it was adjacent to an "abandoned" house. Was advised by prosecutor to change that because he said "there is no such thing as abandoned real property". I changed it to "vacant house" in the case report. Same in this case, it was not abandoned, just not in use by the owners at the time.

Yup, would have been off to jail here.
I just don't understand this mindset. How can folks be so dumb.

It's not abandoned if the taxes have been paid.

Not theirs, they have no rights.

Not a bright idea investing time and money in something you don't own.

While thye were living in the house, did they pay taxes?

Bull Feces. I'm thinking there's abandoned money sitting in those Banks. People aren't using it. I love money and it should be used......

It's a common theme throughout the country. I've just never seen a story stupid enough to present it this way- Like it's anything less then theft.

quote:

Originally posted by braillediver:
I've just never seen a story stupid enough to present it this way-

WAVY is our local NBC affiliate. Their news stories and reporting are terrible. I can totally see those fucktards reporting this story.

I had a house burned out but not down back in 2013. I cleaned out the inside, but then left it empty like that for three years. It may have appeared abandoned, but in reality I was:
1- Clearing up the existing mortgage and settling the insurance claim.
2-Negotiating a deal to sell the land and demolish the structure.
3-When #2 fell through, I was hiring a contractor.
4-Obtaining the financing.
5-Securing the permits.
6-Scheduling the crews.

All that took three years. I'd be pissed if somebody squatted on the property during that time. Just because the property looks neglected, it doesn't mean the owner isn't working on something. Damn commies.

Kick'em the hell out.

quote:

“We already put thousands of dollars into this place, fixing their code violations,” Curbow said.

Well thanks!

Now take the train.