Hera Property Registry

Properties that are vacant and abandoned have a detrimental impact on the community, including maintenance issues and inviting criminal activity. In the case where property owners are out of state or a property is undergoing foreclosure, it is often difficult to notice the responsible party for violations and maintain the necessary level of maintenance and security. To minimize these negative impacts, more than 1,600 municipalities and counties across the country have adopted Vacant Property Ordinances (“VPOs”). VPOs generally require a mortgagee or other responsible party to register a property with the local government upon a triggering event such as vacancy or foreclosure. Registration ensures that the mortgagee or other party is aware of its responsibilities to maintain the property to code, provides the local government with emergency contact information in the event issues arise, and allows the local government to regularly monitor the condition of the property during the registration period.