FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — Prince George's County authorities have ordered the cleanup of a property alongside Indian Head Highway that has been trashed in the wake of eviction, according to the property's owners.
An item that was seen by commuters included an abandoned boat on the roadside and a house surrounded by debris.
The boat and much of the debris have been there since an eviction at the end of February according to residents who live near the property in the 11400 block on Indian Head Highway.
Prince George's County inspectors received a complaint about the property on March 16, 2022, according to Avis Thomas-Lester, a spokesperson for the Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE).
An inspection was conducted on the property on March 21 and violation notices were written to the owner for trash and debris and related violations, Lester-Thomas reported.
The owner was given until April 7 to complete a clean-up, according to county authorities.
Shary Thur, a Florida-based real estate broker representing family members who own the nearly 30-acre property said the owners are committed to a clean-up.
“We're gonna have to because the property is on the market for sale and I certainly can't sell 30 acres with all this junk dumped on the property. We have boats dumped on the property. It looks horrible. It's an eyesore. It's atrocious," Thur said.
Thur says the owners have been victimized by former tenants and squatters who have used the property as a dumping ground for decades.
The Thur family has spent at least $20-thousand for repeated clean-ups, Thur said.
“It's a huge problem. It's something we've been dealing with for over 10 years.”
"It's just not fair to the owners that have to pay for this to get the junk removed."
Eviction of a squatter listed as "John Doe" in court records was completed in late February.
County code requires that landlords haul away debris from an eviction within one business day.
A former resident of the property contacted by WUSA9 said he abandoned possessions there more than two years ago.
The man said he did not know who had been squatting in the house or who may have owned the boat.
He blamed the owners for failing to clean up in the wake of the eviction.
A neighbor who did not want to speak publicly said that the debris on the property has attracted illegal dumpers who have added to the piles of trash.
Thur said a former tenant allowed dumping on the property.
County authorities said if the property owner believes tenants are responsible for the debris, it would be up to the owners to sue the tenants for damages and the cost of clean up.