Orlando hoarder refuses to clean yard despite $2.5MILLION in fines

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Residents in Avonwood Court near Orlando, Florida have had enough
Every day they wake up to a horrible smell, rats and even a boat
Homeowner William Frederick Zorn has refused to clean up the mess
City officials are helpless as states constitution means they can't evict
They are also wary that if they clean it up, and spend up to $10,000 in taxpayer money doing it, he will keep hoarding junk anyway

Published: 12:43 EST, 10 February 2016 | Updated: 00:44 EST, 11 February 2016

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Abandoned boats, rats, rusting appliances and mountains of trash.

That is the view residents of Avonwood Court in Orange County, Florida, wake up to every day as they look across to one of their neighbors - who has been hoarding junk for years.

The man living next door, William Frederick Zorn, has generated $2.5million in fines, but he has refused to clean his yard up.

Every day residents of Avonwood Court in Orange County, Florida, wake up to this view as they look across to one of their neighbors - who has been hoarding junk for years

William Frederick Zorn has generated $2.5million in fines but he has refused to clean his yard up

Those around him are now fed up with the mess, and are urging city officials to do something about it.

But they have been left in a helpless position - because of the state's constitution.

Lori Lewis told Click Orlando: 'I live across from them, and every day they get into their little van, go somewhere and something else appears.'

Mary Smith added: 'The smell is horrible. There are rats, roaches and mosquitoes. It’s a health hazard. There is so much stuff in that yard that is so unsafe.

'We don't know what else to do because Orange County will not help us.'

Bob Spivey of Orange County Code Enforcement said their hands are tied. He told the station: 'The state constitution prohibits us from foreclosing on a homestead property.

'The law that we have is a balancing act people have property rights.'

Spivey is also concerned that if they clean up the mess, and spend up to $10,000 in taxpayer money doing it, they will just have to return a few months later when the hoarder starts again.

Those around him are now fed up with the mess, and are urging city officials to do something about it

Local officials cannot evict Zorn because it is a homesteaded property, which is protected by the state's constitution

They are also concerned that if they clean up the mess, and spend up to $10,000 in taxpayer money doing it, they will just have to return a few months later when the hoarder starts again