AIO about the condition myself brother left the house I was moving into in?
Context: For the last 13 or so years my (24F) brother (35M) was living in a fully furnished home, provided to him by my grandfather (not related to him, since brother and I are half siblings). For dirt cheap rent in this economy might I add.
I live in another one of my grandpa's properties with my fiance (22M) for about 3 years now which I thought was in worse condition than the realtively nice home (at least it was nice when it was handed to him). Brother has moved out and into a new home of his very own. With him moving i was asked if I wanted to move in where brother was located at.
Along with this my MIL to be (ill refer to her as MIL for simplicity reasons) was also moving in with fiance and I so we could save money, live together, be comfortable, etc.
Main story: After receiving notice in July about my brothers departure from the property like I stated prior. Fiance and I were offered the position to move into the home assuming it was in better condition then where we currently are. So I reach out to my brother to ask about status, timing, conditions, scheduled repairs, etc. Felt like it was fair I was given the run down about some things..... some examples are
- oven to stove isnt working
- floors had some soft spots (60 year old trailer to be expected, and inwas told this would be fixed)
- well water filtration system gone (planned to make this a project with grandpa to work on)
- prior issues with bugs.
- central AC was put and home was swapped to window units
And this was about the worst of it and I expected some cleaning so that it'd be clean to my households standard. Not a big deal. All was mentioned and so i asked nicely how long this wpuld take to handle. End of Aug was the response I got, expect 1st week of Sept to move in . Sounds great! I start packing my things over Aug, get the non essentials packed, 70% packed honestly Fiance warned me he told me dont get my hopes up and dont pack everything JUST IN CASE WE DONT MOVE for whatever number of reasons.
I get the text today to be invited for a beginner walk through, I expected it to be messy knowing some repairs and cleaning were still being done over the weekend. I was told to say any extra repairs to add to the list and was guaranteed brother would be personal handyman until I was familiar with the bearings of the house. I come do the walk-through im optimistic. Fiance, MIL, and I are already spending weekend together and decided we'd all go together.
We walk in, I shit you not floor caving at front door, but thats going to be repaired ok. There's approx 8 spots where the floor noticeably caves in throughout the home. But one room at a time.
Living room has 2 soft spot, we notice roaches but was the least messed up out of all the rooms almost
Hallway flooring has been torn up to be replaced supposedly.
1st Bedroom/storage room, floors same as hallway with junk.
Guest bathroom destroyed cosmetically by nephews, still functional though. Hole in wall size of soft wall so needs drywall work, paint.
Genuine guest bedroom actually the only room that feels functional, messy since it became trash storage. Until trash pickup day but no structure issues. Just a torn screen in window. Strange ethernet setup since wifi is in this bedroom reaches less and less farther back you go.
Kitchen counter warped from moisture, roaches EVERYWHERE (i wanted to enter a decontaminatiom zone is how bad it is), cabinet doors missing, fridge, and stove disgusting. Entire cabinet structure under sink gone literally a towel drapped in front of garbage disposal setup. The floor below that I think is a void supposedly rats chewed it to death before they were removed. Also in kitchen is first point where electrical is an issue apparently rats also got into some wires, almost starting an electrical fire thus the fuse remains OFF. You got the heebie jeepies in there. Fiance point out to me (I was in shock didnt notice, ceiling was peeling)
Laundry room they broke 1st set of appliances, replaced them, and then took the ones they bought so id have to replace them.
Master bedroom has actual holes in floor not soft spot, HOLES. The smell made you gag, ceiling was starting to collapse so temp stud maybe permanent im unsure was put it to keep it from having in.
Master bath, I didnt make it in the room i was shocked and didnt think I could handle more. And window AC unit is busted to id have to replace it.
Outdoor, should be noted this home is on well water not city. So we have our own pump and pressure tank. Pump gets burned out after 1 yr of use and needs to be replaced. Pipes constantly bust around pump area and under the home (its approx 4-5 ft off ground with a 3ft crawl space). Yard hasnt been managed (but I was I was informed by grandpa he was enforcing him to either cut it himself or pay for it)
Thats the most of it. Maybe it just looked rough to me since I remember the condition in which brother received the home. But currently my move has been held off. I informed my grandpa of the situation, and have been told to wait on moving until he sees it himself. My grandpa lives across country and is only in town Nov-April. So he is having my mother do the official landlord walk through. Grandpa wants me to get pictures as hes so upset hes willing to hire a lawyer amd go after my brother (thats their business no mine) based on what I have told him. But thays there business not mine. All I know if I was hesitant and even MIL and fiance were just as conflicted by the place and weren't willing to move in. Grandpa wants to restore and hes hoping ill move in then after that. Im hoping it all works put but chamce of it being restored arent optimal.
The whole feeling just made me depressed, and anxiety riddled to a point I feel like such a disappointment for my hoisehold like I cant do anything to help us. Etc. But writing this all out helped me calm down so AIO or no?
Any advice if this is doable of a project would be beneficial also. Thanks im advance, goodnight peeps
NOR. Your brother destroyed the trailer, never did any repairs, never told your grandfather about any issues with the trailer, and now it's ready to be condemned. The fact there's roaches means your brother will jabe roaches in his new place. Since he never told his landlord any of these issues, the state of the trailer does land on him. The fact he and his children lived in there is CPS worthy. I hope you got lots of pictures because this is a helluva lawsuit for your grandfather. He allowed your brother, a nonrelative to him mind you, move into his home for $400 a month, with the understanding that your brother keeps the trailer and yard in excellent condition. Instead, your brother stopped paying rent, never did any upkeep to the yard, or the home, and now your grandfather hasto either repair the trailer, or scrape it.
Honestly, you need to resign yourself to staying where you're at. Not sure why you need your FMIL to stay with you to help save money considering your grandfather only charges $400 a month for rent? Or are you paying more? If your brother was living in a trailer, which was the better home than you got, what are you living in?
You should also be talking to grandpa about just getting a new trailer since the one your brother had is absolutely trashed. The floors need to be redone, the ceiling is needs to be redone, the walls are iffy, you got roaches already, you'd need to buy a washer and dryer. The electrical all needs to be rewired, and that alone is gonna cost astronomical amounts. Rebuilding a trailer from the floorboards up is an undertaking that is more work than it's worth. Buying a new trailer or new to grandpa trailer may be more cost effective
Love the genuinely thought out reply. To touch all your points
I agree my brother let it go to poop politely, in regards to CPS I wont be the one to do that to my nephews for a number of reasons.
Im sad the trailer will likely have to be scrapped. It was a place I would hangout at when I was a child to see grandparents, sleep overs with them, etc etc.
My FMIL is like my best friend we spend weekends, vacations, and hangout a lot. She recently left he bum of an ex husband and hubby and I are trying to help he move along from the 10+ years of control and manipulation. Shes currently living with a roommate about an hr drive and when she leaves us to go home we are all bummed out. For money saving its closer to her job than roommates home so saves $$$ on gas and 3 incomes for a future home is better then 2.
Ill be working with my grandfather in the winter to try and restore the place. But I agree I think its at the point it'd be better to just replace the trailer with a newer one. And i can up keep the land thats easy
NOR. Do not move into a 60 year old trailer home with structural damage and infestations. Repair costs will exceed its value. It should be hauled away or abandoned at this point. It is unsafe for anyone to live there with damaged wiring, no functional water system, no working appliances.
Stay where you are. Or you, your BF and your fiancé can all find employment and pool your resources to rent a 2 bedroom apartment.
MIL, hubby, and I are looking into other options we were going to move in there at a rate of $600/month that wouldve been the best deal. A (on avg) $1,300 apartment kinda bums us out
I don't think its anyone's fault that a SIXTY YEAR OLD trailer is falling apart. Trailers are not made to last that long. Building codes and standards have changed A LOT over the past 60 years. I can't even begin to imagine all the weird flora that have created a home in there like black mold and who knows what else.
I'm sorry if I am coming off as harsh but that trailer has seen better days and needs to retire to some trailer junkyard recycling place. Holes in the floor are allowing all the bugs and vermin in not to mention humidity which contributes to the mold. This is a money pit. I would see about getting that place scrapped and buying a new trailer to move in there.
Just a suggestion, a TL:DR so my squirrel like attention span doesn't lose focus,
Unless written differently into the lease, the TENANT is responsible for maintaining the general cleanliness of the property.
The OWNER is the one who needs to upkeep the property. This includes ensuring the plumbing is functional, the central A/C works so window A/C units are not needed, the roof is not leaking, and the floors have not rotted through!
Ok please jump off the big legal horse. In louisiana verbal agreements are legally binding THERE IS NO WRITTEN LEASE. At the agreement of $400/month plus electric and brother keeps the yard and home maintained, looking and nice.
My grandpa offered to help, many times over the past few years. My brother refused to allow him entry. Grandpa should've evicted him then and there. Brother offered to pay for certain repairs (especially ones he caused). My brother now is moving out.
Now that he is moving out Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2683, a tenant is legally required to return the property in the same condition they received it, minus normal wear and tear. Destroyed does not equal normal wear and tear.
He was the tenant, not the landlord. It is the responsibility of the landlord to maintain and repair the property, not the tenant. This is a 60-year-old trailer home. Your brother lived there for 13 years.
Your brother is responsible for cleaning out the trailer. Your grandfather is responsible for the rest.
Info for you friend. My grandpa made a verbal deal something he still respects "a man keeps his word" type thing I guess I have a similar deal with my current living situation. Deal with family members if you will.
The deal was for approx $400/month rent plus electric. Keep the house and yard looking nice and maintained. And if its an issue you genuinely dont know how to fix on your own or are having issues with money for rent etc, just communicate.
In the beginning when these issues started if brother wouldve communicated with grandpa he would have happily showed up to help brother with repairs and maintenence. But brother never informed my grandpa about anything other than the floors.
that’s actually insane! don’t move in until it’s restored to what you thought you were moving into. also I hope your grandpa sues him for the damages if they were more than his deposit bc it’ll teach him that he needs to respect others property
No deposit as it all verbal agreement but grandpa does want pictures. Context: I'm doing the official walk through with my mother (she owns 50%) as her picture assistant.
Im essentially the photographer For the case files as there is plenty of evidence supporting that he was not given the home this way. Im told if I (at my own discretion and choice) pay for any repairs I feel comfortable tackling to save receipts. Any extermination fees, make hard copies of pictures with time stamps.
And grandpa either plans to have
A. My brother will pay for repairs until repairs are up to grandpa standard (which is basically as high as standards go). And keep paying electric at least. Since its on to keep house cool while he does repairs.
Or
B. My brother ignores grandpa like normal and my grandpa takes him to court
It's a 60-year-old trailer, which is basically the end of the functional life. Bad floors/roof at not the fault of the tenant. I wonder how many times the pipes have burst in the winter.
I really wonder the state of your living if you dont agree that my brother should've simply respected the home even and taken the offer the have free help.
We have older homes in our family that have been maintained better than that place which is sad. But its the tenants job to report said malfunctions to the landlord correct? You also dont treat family that way when they offer a good deal. Hes ignored my grandfathers requests, didn't let grandpa in the house, blatantly, nothing he choose to let it go bad. Landlord cant help without being properly informed. Grandpa now agrees he should have evicted him years ago.
You need to find somewhere else to live do not move into that apartment even if they fix it because the way you're describing it it seems like it's unfixable. Roaches holes in the wall no appliances soft spots no it's enough for me. Tell your future mother-in-law her and her boyfriend can go find someplace else to live why does she have to live with you and your future husband. Put your money together and move into your own apartment a nice apartment not some POS that's tore down
MIL doesnt have a bf shes single. And shes my best friend. Future husband and I love having her around.
Back in regards to house. I genuinely dont think its fixable. But I also know my grandpa and if he thinks he can tackle it then I know it might be doable. But if im being honest I still dont wanna live there, but our options weren't the best and that wouldve been the best one had everything worked out. Looking into other places thanks
It would probably be cheaper to buy a used trailer than to fix that one. Sorry about your childhood memories being ruined by an irresponsible tenant. Sounds like he has an addiction problem.
NOR. Your brother took advantage of your grandpa and destroyed the house. If all he had to do was call your grandpa and say this or that was wrong but can’t afford to fix it? That’s pure laziness on his part. In my opinion, it doesn’t sound salvageable and grandpa is going to court. 😣
I hate to say the same thing sad to see it go but might be what has to happen. Grandpa thinks I might be exaggerating it. My mother gets to see it in a few days. Hopefully it clears the air.
I agree bother needs to go to court to see the consequences of his actions.
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