Miami-Dade County, FL -- Two ordinances sponsored by Commissioner Natacha Seijas meant to safeguard the potential buyers of foreclosed homes and preserve property values were approved by the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, December 2.

The first ordinance passed requires lenders to get an inspection of the foreclosed homes and determine if there are any building or zoning violations and what the cost estimate would be to remedy these violations. The lender would then have to disclose this information to prospective buyers during the selling process so buyers are fully aware of the condition of the property before a sale is finalized.

The second item requires lenders to maintain foreclosed properties once they become vacant. Maintenance includes controlling the overgrowth of grass, weeds, or other plant life; storage or managing any junk, trash, abandoned property, or solid waste on the lot; and upkeep of the swale area which is next to the property if the lot is adjacent to a County right-of-way.  Both ordinances apply only to foreclosed properties in unincorporated Miami-Dade County.

"This legislation was created to protect neighborhoods and ensure homes being sold in Miami-Dade County meet minimum building and zoning code requirements," said Commissioner Seijas. "While a buyer may know they are purchasing the property 'as is,' they might not be aware of various code violations, such as illegal construction added onto the home by previous owners. These violations are not typically discovered during routine inspections of a home.

"We also have to take into account that once a foreclosed home has been vacated, the property can become subject to vandalism, neglect, and disrepair. This is extremely unsafe for the surrounding neighborhood and can bring overall property values in the area down. The lenders must assume responsibility for these properties once the homes are vacated due to foreclosure proceedings."

Florida has one of the highest rates of foreclosure in the country, with vacated properties becoming eyesores and potential hazards for nearby neighbors. For more information on the legislation, please contact 3-1-1.