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When Donna Hartl and her husband bought vacant land in Brooksville, Florida, they thought they had found the perfect location for their dream house. Nestled between Islewood Drive and Richbarn Road, the property of $ 17,500 seemed ideal.
“We really wanted to have a certain intimacy, not being blocked in the country,” Donna Hartl told news journalists 8. “We just thought it was the perfect match.”
But while they were preparing to build, the couple encountered an obstacle: a Duke Energy easement of several decades which prohibits the construction of their new lot because of restrictions on the way in which nearby houses can be built on a new transmission post. Now they are stuck in the limbo.
The Hartls thought they were ready to build their dream house after receiving the approval of the County of Hernando and confirming that the property was zoned for residential use. However, their plans derailed when they discovered a utility bondage of Duke Energy, preventing construction less than 100 feet from a post.
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Despite the initial insurance, a 1955 document revealed servitude, leaving most of the land unusable for construction. The remaining area of 600 square feet could not accommodate a house due to the septic requirements and the wells.
Although the county has lowered the value of the property, the Hartls still owe taxes on a unusable plot of $ 17,500. Duke Energy does not buy properties with easements, so the couple is stuck with the ground.
Hartls’ situation highlights the need to understand easements and secure the title insurance before buying a property. Buyers must search for public files, carry out research on securities and obtain insurance. If an easement affects your property, work with local authorities to explore options such as moving or negotiation with the holder.
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