Q: What are my rights as co-owner when the other party is damaging the property while living there? Can I make him leave?
My mother passed away late March 2014. My brother and I survived her and are both on the deed. The house is paid off so there is no mortgage. He is also not paying water and electric most of the time and lets it go unpaid for months. There is also trash piled up and hoarders living there who are squatters. No one has my permission to stay there. I feel the property is deteriorating because of him allowing "friends" to stay there and then they get in fights, breaking things. I need to know if there is something that I can do because I don't know how to protect my assets. I don't want to just sit here and do nothing. The neighborhood is changing and expanding. Houses have gone up over $100,000 in the last 2-3 years. It has been a ghetto for the last 45 - 50 years. The houses are rowhomes in south Philadelphia built in 1925. There is no more room for expansion in the city. This Point Breeze neighborhood is only blocks away from $500,000 homes, so they are renovating many, priced to match.
A: You should immediately consult with an attorney experienced in estate and real estate law. It's unclear from your question how you and your brother both ended up on the deed and why he seems to have sole possession of the property. Gather up all your paperwork relating to the situation and sit down with an attorney to discuss the details of the situation and learn what your legal options are.
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