Ask Kansas City homeowner Cheryl Leverette how frustrated she is.
“On a scale of one to 10, a 25,” she said.
For the last 15 years, she’s reported her next door neighbor’s property to the city. He’s been cited multiple times for overgrown trees, trash, overhanging branches and holes in the home’s roof.
"In the back, there is one hole that is the size of a loveseat, there's another hole that’s at least three feet wide,” Leverette explained. "I wouldn't be able to sell my house if I wanted to because nobody wants to live next to a property like this."
The homeowner has missed housing court appearances and isn’t complying with the city’s citations. However, the city said there isn’t much more it can do.
“We have been to that home 13 times in the last two years,” said Housing Department Spokesperson John Baccala. “We do everything we can and ultimately it becomes the responsibility of the homeowner to do the right thing. In this particular case, obviously, this isn't happening.”
All Leverette can really do in this situation is keep filing complaints.
"It's ridiculous that it’s been 15 years and they haven't made him clean up,” she said.
