Am I right about my neighbors?

Question

Neighbor #1 - He's been building his house for the past 4 years. Nothing big. He never got any permits to build. He ran his water line from the house (washing machine, etc.) so that it will drain into our lake. He thinks he can do this without getting caught. He had someone do the electric and plumbing that didn't have licenses. He said he is planning to rent it out when it's done.
Neighbor #2 - She is thinking about turning him in for not having permits but feels sorry for him because he has worked on this for a long time. Although they are friends with him and know him good enough I do not. I told her she should but she wanted other people's opinions on the subject first. I told her I knew where I could get a lot of different ones.
What do you think?

Answer 1

The reason why people need permits etc. Is for safety. To build a house requires a lot of information.

For instance, the electrical work requires an electrician, if he is not qualified to do the work it is a fire risk. The people who rent from him could die. The neighbor's houses could also burn down.

Plumbing is also a health issue. It is important to have a safe water supply for the house, and adequate drainage that will not contaminate nearby water sources. The house could become a source of biological hazard to the lake. People who swim in it could get E. coli infections. That can kill the children, or the weakened. And cause pregnant women to abort their babies. Also even if the toilets do not drain to the lake "grey water" such as sinks and bathtubs contain cleansers that may disrupt the micro flora of the lake, disturbing the fish population. If the fishing is important to tourism, or for restaurants, or reservations it could hurt the economy.

That is just two things. He also probably did not consider other factors such as testing for radon, a natural radioactive gas that seeps up from the ground in some areas of the country. If any areas are below ground, like a cellar, basement, or crawl space the family who lives there could develop cancer.

Even something simple like using the right weight nails can be the difference between a house standing up to high winds in an area that gets tornados, and one that collapses killing everyone.

It isn't about "what's nice" He is cutting corners that could really hurt people. Permits are not hard or expensive to get. If he can't/won't get them it is for a reason, he is doing something shady.

Be bold, it has to be stopped.

Answer 2

Ya'll should have turned him in a long time ago! It's kinda late 4 years into his building - sux for him, but I agree there could be a lot of problems especially if he is going to rent it out. It sux but I'd tell. Oh, and the water runoff goes into YOUR LAKE? Gross!

Answer 3

Yes, especially if he's going to rent it out. Lord help the people who end up renting it if some of the unlicensed electrical work catches the house on fire while they're sleeping.

Answer 4

If he didn't get a permit, he has no right to build. From what you say, it sounds like it would be public duty to report him and an act of negligence not to.

Answer 5

Definitely turn him in! That could be seriously dangerous to whoever rents that place! If something happened to them, could you live with yourself? Maybe you should express your concerns to him first. Good luck. I am glad I am not in your position.

Answer 6

Send a letter to your local building inspector. He should be at your town hall.

Answer 7

TURN HIM IN!!! Also if it is your lake, and he doesn't have any ownership whatsoever, then he doesn't have right to do that.

Answer 8

yes.