Ripples

Star Tribune Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:20:58 GMT
Empty houses: Whose job is it to take care of them?

As foreclosures rise, cities find they're left trying to monitor vacant homes that are vulnerable to serious water problems. ... Across the metro, thousands of homes are in foreclosure and many of those have been abandoned this winter. While most homeowners shut off the heat before leaving, some forgot to turn off the water. When temperatures dropped, water built up and burst out through toilets, sinks or pipes in the walls. With foreclosures in suburban communities expected to increase this year, cities are taking on a new responsibility: monitoring vulnerable, vacant homes. The spring thaw has local inspectors worried about what they might find when the ice melts and homes are opened up. "Cities are trying to track [empty homes], but it's a monumental effort," said Will Neumeister, Andover's community development director. Brooklyn Park, Oakdale, Champlin and other cities have outlined what each city department will do to tackle foreclosures. County governments distribute lists of foreclosed homes, but it is often difficult to get a hold of the financial institution that holds the mortgage. In many cases, even if they know a pipe has burst, city inspectors can't go into private property without permission from the owner.

[[keywords: Housing;Metro;]]