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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 15, 2013 01:18 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Tina M. Davis |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Request for Co-sponsorhship: Foreclosed Property Maintenance Act |
| MEMORANDUM To: All House Members From: Representative Tina Davis Date: January 15, 2013 Re: Request for Co-sponsorship: Foreclosed Property Maintenance Act In the near future, I will be reintroducing legislation – former House Bill 2138 of 2011 – requiring any entity that has initiated foreclosure on a property to assume the responsibility of maintaining and registering the property with the municipality in which it is located. Due to the recession and resultant collapse of real estate markets, Pennsylvania has amassed a total of foreclosed and vacant properties numbering in the thousands. Sadly, many of these properties suffer severe degrees of neglect which can rapidly evolve into blighted conditions, creating a negative and lasting effect on the communities in which they are located. Additionally, these abandoned properties often fall prey to looters, scavengers and squatters with the resultant damage causing significant drops in property values. It is the goal of this legislation to require entities foreclosing on a property to register the property with the municipality in which it resides. Foreclosing entities would be further required to inspect and maintain the property each month that it remains vacant. Consequently, the legislation provides the foreclosing entity with an option to enter into contract with the municipality to perform certain exterior maintenance work in order to keep the property in compliance to code. Imposing these few simple requirements will ensure foreclosed properties remain habitable and marketable, with the added benefit that they sell in a timely manner. Ensuring that these properties find their way back into the hands of our working families will prove beneficial not only to property buyers and lenders, but most importantly to our municipalities. Previous cosponsors: CALTAGIRONE, CRUZ, DALEY, DeLUCA, FREEMAN, HALUSKA, JOSEPHS, KULA, MAHONEY, MILLARD, PAYTON, SABATINA AND STURLA |
Introduced as HB853