Have you been reading about the New Hampshire Homesteader Cabin?

[K5lwq]

Personally, I can appreciate both sides of this story. But I still think it is ridiculous how this was handled. I can only imagine that a courteous conversation could have resolved this issue.

 

[Jstpssng]

Personally, I can appreciate both sides of this story. But I still think it is ridiculous how this was handled. I can only imagine that a courteous conversation could have resolved this issue.

It's taken 6 years to get to this.

 

[shooterdon]

I have a "hermit" living 3/4 miles from me. No septic system and no water...not even a hand pump. He does not have a drivers license and cannot (will not?) drive anyway.

He bought a home in town that he rents out and will be selling shortly. Stopped working about 25 years ago and has not filed income taxes since then.

There are people that live like that for decades.

I feel sorry for the old guy in the story but that does not grant him "rights". He shot himself in the foot when he said he had a verbal agreement so he cannot claim adverse possession.

If he had claimed adverse possession, he would own all the property. Then he could have sold half of it and paid for the improvements needed to keep his cabin with enough left over to pay taxes the rest of his life.

I do not have a lot of sympathy for absentee landlords who are too cheap to have someone "caretake" their property....even if it is just to visit if every 6 months to keep squatters out.

 

[Jstpssng]

I have a "hermit" living 3/4 miles from me. No septic system and no water...not even a hand pump. He does not have a drivers license and cannot (will not?) drive anyway.

He bought a home in town that he rents out and will be selling shortly. Stopped working about 25 years ago and has not filed income taxes since then.

There are people that live like that for decades.

I feel sorry for the old guy in the story but that does not grant him "rights". He shot himself in the foot when he said he had a verbal agreement so he cannot claim adverse possession.

If he had claimed adverse possession, he would own all the property. Then he could have sold half of it and paid for the improvements needed to keep his cabin with enough left over to pay taxes the rest of his life.

I do not have a lot of sympathy for absentee landlords who are too cheap to have someone "caretake" their property....even if it is just to visit if every 6 months to keep squatters out.

Somebody is looking after it as there has been logging activity over the years. Chances are that he just told them he had permission to be there. It also could be that Mr Giles knew about it, but once faced with environmental concerns he very conveniently forgot.

I understand your comment about adverse possession. However, while he has been there since 1998 the landowner has been trying to evict him for 6 of those years; so the required 20 years hasn't elapsed. In any case I don't believe that he would have been able to claim the entire 73 acres... probably it would just be the land which he actually occupied. He's been there for free, has apparently been stealing wood for years, and his story keeps changing. Based on some of his comments, it doesn't sound like he's the "Nice old man" which some purport him to be.

This string of articles just goes to show how the media's spin on a situation can really affect the public viewpoint.

 

[shooterdon]

Somebody is looking after it as there has been logging activity over the years. Chances are that he just told them he had permission to be there. It also could be that Mr Giles knew about it, but once faced with environmental concerns he very conveniently forgot.

I understand your comment about adverse possession. However, while he has been there since 1998 the landowner has been trying to evict him for 6 of those years; so the required 20 years hasn't elapsed. In any case I don't believe that he would have been able to claim the entire 73 acres... probably it would just be the land which he actually occupied. He's been there for free, has apparently been stealing wood for years, and his story keeps changing. Based on some of his comments, it doesn't sound like he's the "Nice old man" which some purport him to be.

This string of articles just goes to show how the media's spin on a situation can really affect the public viewpoint.

Oh I do not for a minute think the guy is a nice old man. Most hermits are hermits for a reason. "My" hermit is like that. Estranged from almost all his family, two ex-wives, nice when he needs something, and hopes people will feel sorry for him. Spends his time getting drunk, smoking, watching cartoons and playing solitaire.

I used to pitch in with the rest of of locals and take him to town to shop, visit the VA, and do laundry etc. Invited him for campfires, cookouts and such.

When my fiancé moved in a lot of that stopped. He stank so bad she would not ride in the truck if I had him with us. When I took him out without her, the truck would smell unless I aired it out.

Cannot completely abandon the old boy and I know he gets lonely. He has made his choices and for the most part needs to live with them.

 

[Jstpssng]

He has made his choices and for the most part needs to live with them.

We all do those, good or bad. There are things I wish that I had done differently also, and bad choices which I live with. Yet they were mine to make.

 

[cqaigy2]

Can’t evict if you don’t have a contract to be there in the first place!

Not true in this state. You might be surprised at the rights of a person that comes for a "visit". Here it's three days.

 

[Jstpssng]

Not true in this state. You might be surprised at the rights of a person that comes for a "visit". Here it's three days.

That's only the case here with stray cats and dogs. Feed it, you own it.

 

[Sigarms]

He has made his choices and for the most part needs to live with them.

BINGO.

I tell my wife if she ever goes before me, I'm buying a small place in WV or Western NC or mountains of Tenn and will live off grid away from everyone.

Thing is, the property will be mine and I'll pay taxes on it.

 

[jaxs]

This string of articles just goes to show how the media's spin on a situation can really affect the public viewpoint.

Aaaaw,you say that like it's common practice for the media and people actually do believe them.