MIAMI -- The few remaining tenants and owners at a Miami condominium were ordered to leave Tuesday, another example of the housing crisis in South Florida.

The seven-story building at 1531 NW 16th Ave. has 51 units, but only 17 are occupied. The loss of owners to foreclosures means a loss of maintenance fees being paid for the upkeep of common areas.

On Monday, the city of Miami found several code violations inside the building, the most serious being a fire alarm system that does not work.

Another violation involves garbage that has been piling up for three to four months and is blocking the trash chutes as high as the fourth floor.

The few remaining residents said break-ins in the building have been rampant.

Thieves have targeted the foreclosed units. Even the metal casings on the laundry machines were taken, likely to be sold for scrap metal.

The company that handles the waste removal, Choice Environmental, was called out to remove the garbage.

Miami fire-rescue Lt. Ignatius Carroll told Local 10 that under city code, if a company has a Dumpster at a property, the company must continue to pick up the garbage even if the bills are not paid.

City officials deemed the building uninhabitable Tuesday and ordered residents to leave, though they did not give a specific deadline to vacate the premises.