Inspectors support bill holding lenders responsible
There’s a bill pending in Illinois which would allow local governments to pass ordinances that would make lenders responsible for the upkeep of vacant properties in foreclosure. Needless to say, the lenders are fighting the bill. They’ve proposed a $50 fee per foreclosure that would go into a pool that local governments could draw from to reimburse themselves for their costs. $50 per property, hmmmm, that’ll go really far. Maybe it’ll cover half a lawn being cut, once. They must really think we’re stupid. I’m disheartend that when I contacted my state rep, I received a nice “thanks for your e-mail” message, completely ignoring the expertise on this issue I’ve developed. The banks say that they just wouldn’t be able keep up with all of the municipal ordinances that might be passed; maybe they would then know what it’s like to be an inspector who is desperately trying to reach a live human being at a lender when a property has 6 feet of water in the basement of a vacant home under foreclosure. I wish I wasn’t so cynical about the political process. I wish I believed it was possible that politicians would do the right thing and help local government preserve neighborhoods. I want to believe that if they only knew about the problems we face, they’d give us some meaningful tools. But, if they ignore our attempts to educate them, how can they make an informed decision?
Amen! I could not agree more.
The banks are absurd. They begin the foreclosure process that has people to leave their homes then they stop. When pressed in court to maintain the now vacant properties the bank’s attorneys argue that their clients are not legally the owners and should not be held liable. The only reason they’re not the “owner of record” is because they hold up the foreclosure process in many cases for years and delay having a deed put in their names. (Absurdity)^10
I am beginning to think that municipalities should encourage all the citizens calling in with grass cutting complaints on vacant properties to call their state representatives and ask that they support the bill. Linda, do you know that name of the bill or HR?
It’s HB 1109 – Vacant Property Legislation. Let your voice be heard and thanks for the comments.