Is the city where your parents or grandparents live stealing your inheritance? The biggest investment we make as middle class citizens is the purchase of a home. For most of us this home is filled with loving and caring memories.

The most we can leave our children or grandchildren when we die is the home where we spent a life time. The home where our children grew up and the home where grandchildren came to visit grandma and grandpa.

Increasingly, cities across the nation are placing labor liens against the family homestead and waiting for the owners to die to collect. By the time grandma and grandpa leave this earth the home has city labor liens well in excess of its value.

Here is how it works. All cities have a building code. This code is meant to protect its citizens from shoddy builders, remodelers and slum lords as well as keeping the city well groomed and presentable.

As our citizens age they become less and less able to maintain the home they purchased 20 or 30 years ago. In addition, their income drops dramatically to the point where they are unable to pay for someone else to do the maintenance.

A senior citizen, especially one with a medical condition, can no longer mow the lawn or do most any kind of yard work. And if that same citizen’s only income is social security in the amount of $300.00 to $1,000.00 then the choice becomes one of getting the lawn mowed, buying medications, eating or paying the utilities.

Most cities will mow the lawn once the grass grows to between 6 and 12 inches. Regardless of the size of the lawn the charge will be anywhere from $300.00 to $600.00 and this does not include the back yard. The yard is not cut with care nor is it cut with a lawnmower. A large tractor with a brush hog attachment is used.

A bill is sent to the homeowner. If the homeowner is unable to pay the bill then the city will file a labor lien and carry the amount until the property sells, at which time they collect at closing, or if the owners pass away, they will put the house up for auction.

Grass mowing labor liens are not the only things the cities use to take your inheritance and generate funds for themselves. Most homes have a roof overhang called an eve, attached to the eve is the fascia board. Assuming the home is a brick home, the only thing that requires painting is this 3 ½ inch board that runs all the way around the house. It is close to impossible for a 80 year old man or woman to climb a ladder and paint this board. Yet if it is not painted the city will condemn the home as “unfit for human habitation”. Cities have numerous laws by which to steal your inheritance.

Is there a solution? Yes there are several options. 1) We could just let the cities continue to unjustly enrich themselves. 2) We could abolish the building codes or portions thereof. Or 3) We could pass new laws making it a crime for senior citizens and handicapped citizens to own real property. 4) We could make it a requirement that all property owners pass a physical and general knowledge test of home ownership.

If indeed the building codes are for the protection of all citizens then option 3 makes a lot of sense. We cannot continue to let these non-compliant citizens endanger the rest of society.

If the real object of the building code is to generate revenue for the city then of course option 1 is the proper course of action.
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Pancho Villa - a bleeding heart liberal Revolutionary.
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