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South Burlington tenant seeks tax relief after neighboring-unit fire left her displaced
Summary
Rebecca Lowe told the Board of Abatement that a May 20, 2025 fire in a neighboring condo unit caused water and smoke damage to her unit, forced relocation, ongoing mitigation delays and additional costs; she asked that the 2025 tax bill be reconsidered (city staff estimated the shortfall at about $3,004.53).
Chair Chris Shaw opened the hearing for parcel O57000425.019 (425 Dorset St, unit 19) and the applicant described a neighboring-unit fire on May 20, 2025 that caused extensive water and smoke infiltration and displacement.
"It was 05/20/2025... We have been out since then," the applicant said, describing months of mitigation and that insurance covered six months of hotel lodging but not all losses. She said mitigation and repairs have been slow because the neighbor’s unit initially refused entry for cleanup, and that she continues to pay mortgage and HOA fees while displaced.
Board members asked whether the homeowners association or insurers had covered interim costs; the applicant said the HOA initially covered some construction but would parse costs with insurers, and that reimbursement for elevated utilities had been partial. Staff reviewed the applicant’s submitted documentation and estimated the immediate amount on the tax bill the applicant sought relief for is roughly $3,004.53. As with other cases on the agenda, the board closed testimony and said it would issue a written decision within 30 days after deliberation.
