Temple City in Los Angeles Aims to Keep Foreclosed Homes Clean

The Temple City Council is proposing an ordinance that would regulate maintenance of foreclosed homes in the city. The proposal is set to be approved next month. According to Temple City Mayor Rick Ford, the city government has been receiving numerous complaints about how unkempt foreclosures become liabilities to local communities.

Under specific provisions of the proposed ordinance, every vacant foreclosed home in Temple City should be registered with the city government. The holders of the foreclosed properties would be subject to an annual fee of $150. The city government would then maintain cleanliness and orderliness of the distressed properties. The contact number of the holder should also be posted on the property.

The proposal would impose a $300 fine for any failure to register the property with the city government. Every violation to the proposed policy would also lead to a fine of $300 each breach. City Attorney Cynthia Daley asserts that the ordinance would immediately take effect after its approval. The enforcement provision would be about 90 days after the enactment. Thus, current holders of repossessed and foreclosures would be given a 90-day grace period, so they could register the properties.

Temple City, in Los Angeles, California, does not employ any code enforcement officer. The city council considers employing at least one employee on a part-time basis to handle necessary duties associated with this proposed ordinance. Until that employee is hired, such duties would be initially handled or taken care of by designated police officers.

Several years ago, Temple City has witnesses its growth as a city with the emergence of numerous and new housing communities. However, the poor economy brought about by the recent financial crisis has led to thousands of foreclosure cases. The number of foreclosed homes has increased over time.

Market experts note that foreclosed properties that remain vacant for several months or even years usually deteriorate. It is because as unkempt homes, overall appeal and quality of the properties fall. Cleanliness is not maintained as well as overall aesthetic appeal. In some communities, neighborhoods also complain about how such uninhabited foreclosed homes tend to become centers of crimes and temporary shelters of vagabonds, beggars, and criminals.

Temple City aims to help keep foreclosed homes clean, orderly, and homey for potential buyers in the future.

For more news and information about foreclosures, go to ForeclosureConnections.com.