We have the same issue with a townhome in our neighborhood in Burke, VA. The home hasn't been inhabited in YEARS and it is literally falling apart. Water and power were turned off years ago and the yard is overgrown, fences are falling apart etc. It looks like it needs to be torn down. Our HOA is generally very strict and most of us receive notifications or even fines for the smallest infractions (for example having three flower pots instead of only two pots per HOA regulations). But somehow this home is falling through the cracks. A few neighbors have already called the HOA to report the issue, but nothing has been done. I'm sure there are vermin in and around the townhome by now.

Who else could we contact?

Are you on the Hill? Are you in the Historic area? You can ask it for help.

When I had this issue, I called the city to report because the owner was claiming the homestead tax deduction despite not living there or even visiting the house for years. I also called my council member and the ANC rep. The city auctioned the house, a new person bought it (they got to it before we did!) and renovated it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'd call 311 and ask them what can be done.

Or your ANC reps.

Yes, you might start with your ANC Commissioner. Some are very responsive and know how to get things done through city agencies; some are useless. But it's worth a try in case you have the former.

+1 to ANC reps. Start there.

There is a limit to how high you can grow your grass/weeds. The city will actually fine you if it is too high. Someone needs to call the city and file a complaint.

Many many years ago I lived in a rundown group house near the Cathedral. The neighbors were always doing this to our landlord! This was the only way the yard ever got cleaned up.

my block in DC has some sort of controlled population of alley cats. Once upon a time it was uncontrolled, but now the cats have all been spayed/neutered, have their one ear docked, and I think get period medical attention.

And my alley no longer has a rat population.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'd call 311 and ask them what can be done.

Or your ANC reps.

OP, I'd call 311 and ask them what can be done.

The rats make it a health issue because they spread disease and multiple. Where I live in Alexandria, when you call the city and saw you see rats, that seems to be the magic phrase. I don’t know what department you would call in DC but that’s what you need to tell them. There is a rat infestation and it’s spreading.

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. It’s infested with rats and mice. No thank you.

Then you seem to have answered your question for yourself.

Anonymous wrote:There is a home on our block and we know the person living there is a squatter.

The windows in the attic have broken glass and it’s causing neighbors homes to get infested with squirrels in the walls and an increasing rat problem.


What can we do within our rights to have this problem addressed?

The yard is very overgrown even for a small DC rowhouse lawn.

He is a nice person, and we don’t want to displace him, but whoever owns the house is completely negligent. I’m honestly not sure why they have not sold to a developer yet.

If you don't want to displace him, I'm not sure there is anything you can do short of cleaning up the property yourself or paying someone to do it. If you try to involve authorities of any kind they will contact the owner, which presumably will lead to the owner kicking the squatter out.

This is OP. It’s infested with rats and mice. No thank you.

Why not just walk over with a weed whacker? It probably wouldn’t take more than 10 minutes.

There is a home on our block and we know the person living there is a squatter.

The windows in the attic have broken glass and it’s causing neighbors homes to get infested with squirrels in the walls and an increasing rat problem.


What can we do within our rights to have this problem addressed?

The yard is very overgrown even for a small DC rowhouse lawn.

He is a nice person, and we don’t want to displace him, but whoever owns the house is completely negligent. I’m honestly not sure why they have not sold to a developer yet.