They can prove to be a major nuissance for neighborhoods in our community. WCJB reporter Erica Rodriguez tells us what steps you can take if you think a dangerous building is in your part of town.

An old, abandoned building can attract some unwanted characters to an otherwise peaceful neighborhood.

Robert Mobley's house sits next door to this large, vacant plot of land in Southeast Gainesville. But, it wasn't always this peaceful. Until last month, Mobley had to look at an old, abandoned house everyday.

"It was a shame, because it had all this junk in the yard," said Mobley.

An unsightly abandoned home can drag neighbors' property value down and attract all kinds of illegal activity.

Code Enforcement Officer Jeff Look says old, abandoned homes are considered dangerous not just because of their structural issues, but because of the overall potential harm to it's neigborhood.

Once a home is considered dangerous, the property owner can do one of two things: get a permit to fix the place up or get a permit to knock it down.

Look says residents are key in finding dangerous buildings. He says his department values complaints from residents like Mobley, who are just tired of dealing with the eyesore next door.

If you think a dangerous home may be in your neighborhood, call your local code enforcement office.