This home had been in disrepair in this January file photo. The code enforcement officer says a program to increase enforcement of overseas banks owning such properties isn't 'going well.'
Hollister Code Enforcement Officer Mike Chambless today said a program to make overseas banks more accountable for neglected properties "is not going well."
Chambless had told the Free Lance in May officials were starting the program to heighten accountability of banks, based in places such as Japan and Germany, which own unkempt properties here. Officials had been responding to increased reports of such homes falling into dangerous levels of disrepair, while others were being broken into for drug use and other criminal activity.
The city sent letters in April and May warning that a $1,000 a day fine could result if compliance is not met by owners. The maximum penalty is $100,000, but securing any fines from overseas banks has been problematic.
"I've had a little success with one bank in Germany that owns multiple properties," Chambless said.
He noted how he'd been dealing with a German bank office on Wall Street to rectify the problems here.
"All we can do is try to contact them and get them with the program," Chambless said. "We monitor the homes, and if one gets way out of whack, we deal with it. That's just it, though. All we can do is address the big problems."
The county has 429 homes in pre-foreclosure, another 144 lenders have put up for auction, and another 429 owned outright by the banks, he noted.
And more are getting added to the lists every week.
"I just came from a place today on Athena," said Chambless. "The place was bought in December of 2006, went into default on July 10 and has loans on it totaling 735,000."
Chambless said the yard is full of trash and the owners have disappeared.
Jeff Gatlin Jeff Gatlin is a staff writer at The Hollister Free Lance. You can call him at (831) 637-5566 or send him an email.
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