The Downsides of Leaving a House Vacant for Years
If you’ve left your house vacant, you’re probably asking yourself what to do with it. In this article, we’ll address some of the downsides of leaving a house vacant for years, as numerous problems can arise without you even realizing it.
Often, people believe that, if they leave a house vacant for a time, nothing will happen to it. However, this can cause all kinds of problems that can cause long term problems.
The first thing you must do is analyze the pros and cons of the situation, what’s in your best interest, and possible solutions. You shouldn’t let this situation stress you out.
Leaving a house vacant and damp
One of the biggest problems you may have to deal with is the damp that can appear in different parts of the house. Both due to bad weather and damage, stains and bad smells can occur.
If you’ve left your house vacant, you probably check its condition from time to time, but not weekly. Some people only make one annual visit. But this is a serious mistake since all kinds of situations can occur in the meantime.
Moisture and damp can directly affect the walls. Therefore, if your house is exposed to wind and rain or if it’s had roof leaks, you have to keep an eye on things and not neglect or abandon your home.
If you don’t regularly check the condition of your home, you may come across unpleasant surprises.
Leaving a house vacant for years also generates dirt
People often think that dirt won’t appear if they leave their house vacant for years. However, nothing could be further from the truth. This is because uninhabited spaces also get dirty and bugs can get in. Here are three more downsides:
- You’ll find cobwebs everywhere. Without a doubt, this is a sign of neglect.
- Dirt and dust also have a significant impact. Just as damp can appear, so can dust. Decorative objects can begin to lose their sheen and show signs of abandonment.
- With the passage of time, the paint may peel off, the wood may get woodworm, and the bathrooms pipes can clog. Now you can see that leaving a house vacant can have many negative consequences.
A vacant house generates economic losses
A house that’s been vacant for years becomes unproductive. In other words, you’re not going to make money off it. Instead, it’ll cause you to lose money. Before leaving it vacant, why not think of a solution that benefits you?
You’ll still have to pay community taxes and other bills. You must also pay for the maintenance of water and electricity, even if you don’t use it. If you take a look at your bills, in the long run, you’ll see that you’re losing money.
Instead of making your home unproductive, it’s a better idea to rent it out. This is a feasible way to get the most out of it and get an extra income. Also, you’ll make sure it doesn’t fall into neglect.
A vacant house can become another more economic cost in your life.
Possible problems with the owners’ community
Although it may not seem like it, a vacant home can be a problem for an owners’ community. Firstly, because you’re not going to be aware of the meetings and actions that take place in the neighborhood.
Often, the community president and administrator send notices about community payments or other issues that arise, such as leaks, broken pipes, or repairs.
In short, if you don’t live in the home, you’re not contributing anything to the cohabitation with your neighbors. What you need to understand is that the biggest loser in this situation will be you.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Heller, Andy; Frank, Scott: Invertir en vivienda, Barcelona, Gestión 2000, 2007.