Supervisors Clamp Down on Abandoned Properties
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors today passed a pair of ordinances designed to ensure that County neighborhoods maintain a quality standard. These measures are in direct response to the threat of dilapidated houses abandoned by foreclosure actions and neglected by the beneficiaries and trust deed holders.
One of the ordinances recognizes the urgency of enacting such legislation immediately; the second ordinance makes permanent the requirements.
Ordinance No. 880 takes effect immediately and requires that trust deed holders register their abandoned properties and maintain them in such a manner that they do not become hazardous and unsightly threats to the neighborhood; Ordinance 881, the permanent version takes over 30 days from today's adoption by the Board.
The background information for the two ordinances states:
"Foreclosed, abandoned and unmaintained properties are increasing in Riverside County.
"Beneficiaries/trust deed holders, some with no other connection to Riverside County, do not responsibly maintain these properties.
"In general, these foreclosed, abandoned and unmaintained properties create a health and safety risk for the citizens in Riverside County. Specifically, these properties can lead to the following: decline in property value; danger to children as attractive nuisances; opportunities for secretive criminal conduct including, but not limited to, gang and drug crimes; squatters and real estate fraud."
The two ordinances spell out in detail requirements for registering vacated homes, minimum maintenance standards, and penalties for failure to comply.