There is a terrific couple who were offered a house sitting position for one year a couple of months ago in Sosua, now the owner has decided to come back suddenly and sent them an email telling them to leave in 9 days. The house was in a bad way and the husband made a lot of repairs including the inverter and he bought new batteries and a new water pump and the owner wont pay them money for the items. They had no contract and cannot afford a lawyer. These people are very honest and reliable and maintain properties they have looked after very well. Can anyone offer them a house sitting position or maybe as a handyman and housekeeper with the owner in situ with accommodation please. They speak English, German and Spanish very well. The husband can do all repairs, electrical, plumbing, and construction. Please help them if you can, they are good people, who will soon be homeless.
Sorry Ladybird but this just doesn't sit right with me somehow. We are just getting one side of the story (& that 3rd hand!!) so maybe I could ask a few questions to clear the waters a bit?
How were the initial discussions about them 'house sitting' conducted - By e-Mail? If so, won't those act as some form of 'contract/agreement'?
When the 'house sitter' bought the batteries & water pump I presume he had the receipts made out in HIS name - therefore he can take them with him as they BELONG to him - not the house owner.
If these 'house sitters' make a habit of sitting houses for others, SURELY they know well enough that it is imperative to have a contract?
If the house sitters bought inverter batteries & a water pump, they MUST have got the agreement of the owner to buy these & also make improvements to the owners house - to to these things WITHOUT the owners agreement is just plain irresponsible!
They obviously HAD some money to go & buy these items, WHY are they now short of cash? ANYONE who lives in this country without US $1,000 as an 'Emergency Fund' is asking for serious problems - lawyers will always work for a deposit of RD $10,000 or so.
If the facts are as you state above, I am SURE that you (they) will find a lawyer to act 'Pro Bono' for them. 10 months loss of living quarters, theft of batteries/water pump, income for maintenance & repairs ....... There is a whole array of suits that can be brought against the house owner I would have thought!
I would LOVE to get the House Owners side of this story but suspect I never will. Are they a long term owner of property in the DR? Are any of us likely to know them?
How long have these people LIVED in the DR? It would appear they have learnt little of the way things work in this country & the scams that others will pull when they consider the time to be right. I don't want to incur your wrath more than I normally do by asking sensible questions but if these people have lived here for more than 6 months I would be extremely concerned about their decision making abilities.
NO, I do NOT have a property for them to 'sit' for me at the moment & I am probably wrong for suggesting this ....... BUT, as an absentee property owner I would have to decline their services as I wold be frightened of the spontaneity of their actions/decisions & the desire to leave things to chance without a GOOD CONTRACT to back things up!
I do NOT wish these 'good people' any harm but I would advise them to get their act together if they wish to continue 'sitting' for people & ensure a contract is always drawn up prior to accepting a 'house sitting' position.
Failing that, Caveat Emptor Mr Absentee Landlord!! ~ Grahame.