Connecticut House Bill HB05971

Connecticut 2015 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/15
• Refer: 1/22/15

Caption

An Act Concerning Blight Fines On The Senior Mortgagee Of Foreclosed Property.

Impact

If enacted, the bill could provide municipalities with a useful tool to combat blight by holding senior mortgagees accountable for properties under foreclosure. By allowing local governments to levy fines, the bill aims to incentivize mortgagees to take responsibility for the upkeep of their properties, potentially leading to a decrease in the number of blighted homes and an improvement in overall neighborhood conditions.

Summary

House Bill 05971 seeks to amend section 7-148 of the general statutes to empower municipalities in Connecticut to impose fines on the senior mortgagee of foreclosed properties that violate local ordinances aimed at preventing housing blight. The intent of the bill is to address the growing concern over properties that have fallen into disrepair due to abandonment and foreclosure, which can negatively impact communities and property values.

Contention

There may be points of contention regarding the feasibility and fairness of imposing fines on mortgagees. Critics may argue that while the intent is to reduce blight, the enforcement of such fines could disproportionately affect stakeholders who may already be facing financial hardship due to foreclosures. Additionally, there might be concerns about how effective these fines will be in prompting reparative action from mortgagees, especially in a struggling housing market.