Connecticut State Senate Bill Would Make it Mandatory for Foreclosed Property Owners to Get Registered

May 26th, 2009 | Tags: Foreclosed Properties

foreclosed properties

The Connecticut State Senate bill would now make it mandatory for foreclosed property owners to get themselves registered. It would enable the officials of the municipality to locate the owners of the foreclosed units with the help of a national data base and take action swiftly to put into force local ordinance rulings.

It will be of great help to Bridgeport City and other municipalities in the same boat overburdened with vacant foreclosed houses.
In Bridgeport there have been over 2,000 complaints about the vacant properties dotting the landscape like pox. Complaints have been rolling in since 2005. The bill will be an effective instrument to force the recalcitrant owners to own up to their responsibilities to maintain the half charred run down structures that are ruining the health of neighbourhoods.

The Mayor of Bridgeport Bill Finch said, “When the market’s falling apart, there are foreclosures and limited liability corporations involved and it can be a real detective job.” Formerly he was a state senator. He has been trying to address the problem of innumerable complaints. But the banks have been playing a hide and seek trying all the tricks up their sleeves to avoid being detected.

The bill will be based on a national online registration system that the banks are already making use of. With its help the attorneys are keeping track of foreclosed property. The participation in it is voluntary till now.
The bill has been sponsored by Senator Bob Duff (Democrat). It will now go to the House of Representatives. If it becomes law after getting the signature of the Governor Jodi Rell, it would make it mandatory for the foreclosing entity on any property in Connecticut, after 1st October 2009, to register with the aforesaid system giving details of contact. The name, address (postal and e-mail), telephone number would have to be correctly given so that they can be contacted without delay by the concerned authorities.
Since 2005 Bridgeport City officials have handled 2,000 complaints.

Of these only 1,000 have been cured and brought back to a normal condition. The others continue to be curses dotting the neighbourhoods. Property owners are accused of various types of blight – overgrown gardens, burnt out houses, derelict buildings etc. In the past three years fine notices amounting to $424,400 have been issued. There are over 2,030 properties yet to be tackled.