“Should I pay the house taxes for a property where my landlord died 3 years ago and I’m living rent-free in Miami, FL? What happens if someone claims ownership and asks for back rent? #Miami #propertyownership #rentfree #house taxes”
Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email.
Please briefly explain why you feel this question should be reported.
Please briefly explain why you feel this answer should be reported.
Please briefly explain why you feel this user should be reported.
I would get with a real estate or an estate attorney to see about the requirements for adverse possession in your state. It seems the property would be abandoned if you weren’t inhabiting it, which may work in your favor for assuming ownership of the property.
TLDR: NAL, talk to an attorney. Some niche law that rarely gets referenced may do you a favor.
Not answering the legal advice part of it, just practical advice.
If the tax payment is cheaper than rent at the place you’d likely have to move next, and you’d like to keep living there, it seems like paying the tax payments would be the smart move.
Government makes sure to get its money. Private owners, often not.
In some states paying taxes would be necessary for any later adverse possession claim.
Pay the tax, consider it cheap rent, and keep on keeping on.
I -am- a lawyer, but I am not your lawyer. Adverse possession has become tougher in many states, but your ‘squatting’ only hurts the daughters heirs. They clearly don’t know yet, so keep enjoying your nearly free rent.
If you want to keep living there you can pay the taxes and save the receipt. In some states you can deduct from rent repairs and such to keep the place up to livable standards. So that might apply or not.
Then keep saving what you should be paying in rent to a separate account. Deduct any repairs, not of your fault, and track it.
But as said talk to a real estate lawyer on what is and is not allowed in your state area. Keep saving in case you need to move and tell no one but legal counsel that represents you.
NAL
I’m a former code enforcement officer from Miami Dade County, since you checked property records, deeds, and taxes are yet to be paid this year, I would consult a real estate attorney and I would, that’s me personally, pay the property taxes, and keep records of payment. And speak with a lawyer ASAPÂ
So the issue here is the lack of true owner, typically after a very long process the abandoned property is claimed by the local municipality and sold at auction typically due to non payment of property tax. I’d say go ahead and talk to an attorney about the situation.
I would also be setting aside rent in a account that’s kept separate as a contingency plan. Nothing in writing on the lease means your proably not really on the hook for anything but a nice lump settlement wad is always a good thing to have when things are this up in the air.
NAL but I would recommend speaking to one. You *might* be able to get started on a path towards adverse possession, but you also *might* have to worry about an unjust enrichment suit from the owners if they figure it out.
That sounds like a mess the daughters heirs need to figure out. If anything you are living there and keeping it up you are doing them a service. Just pay the tax and if no one comes along maybe one day you all will own it.
I would pay/buy the taxes. It is my understanding you’re guaranteed to end up with one of two things: your money back with the statutory rate of interest when the owner redeems the taxes or title to the house if you keep paying taxes and foreclose your lien. I’d check to see if the taxes were already paid by a tax purchaser last year since you aren’t sure who paid them.
Don’t pay the taxes let them put a tax lean on the house then pay them a year later no one from the heirs family pay you back you become legal owner of the house
You know there are ways to pay the tax lien and own the property….could be a way to purchase the property legally. Ethically, kind of iffy
In my state if you pay the taxes on a property for three years you can file for ownership of the property. Check your tax laws.
Talk to a lawyer there is a way you can end up with the deed to the property but there are conditions that you will need to meet.
i agree on paying the taxes, its cheaper than rent and if no one is bothered by it, you’re not doing anything wrong
you dont even need to be on the deed to pay the tax, the tax office doesnt care. the question is how to get the tax bill. i can tell you from experience that the name on the check to pay tax bill does not need to be the same as the name on the deed
not that it would make much difference, but you might want to check records to see if the house is mortgaged or paid off. if its mortgaged, then yeah eventually bank will come for the home. but if its paid off, then you have longer outlook
Save up your rent so you can buy a home when it’s found out that you live there.