DETERMINING OWNERSHIP

There must be a system for holding owners of vacant and blighted property accountable for the condition of that property. However, the issue of ownership becomes difficult to unravel when a property is involved in the foreclosure process. In addition, awareness of changes in title is necessary because rapid changes in title may indicate that a property is the subject of a mortgage fraud scheme.

Without identifying the owner of a property, the neighbors often bear the cost and responsibility of maintaining that property. Knowing the true owner of a property may provide the possibilities of access to the property, assistance with maintenance and repairs, and financial reimbursement.

Possible Actions or Responses:

Neighbors, non-profits, and CDCs could utilize the steps outlined in this publication to determine ownership of vacant houses. These community members can then use the ownership information to hold the owner of a property accountable for its condition. The community members could accomplish this through direct communication and negotiation with the property owner or by providing the information to existing systems such as the Police Department, Department of Public Works, Buildings Safety and Engineering Department, and the Wayne County Nuisance Abatement Program to maximize the functioning and efficiency of these systems.