The Town of Islip razed a so-called ‘zombie’ house in Central Islip last month, using money from a grant from the state's attorney general's office. The grant is in the amount of $339,100.
The house, a single-story structure on Prospect Street, suffered severe fire damage in May, 2013. The fire also caused the collapse of the house's in-ground swimming pool, and Islip resolved to demolish the home in September, 2015.
‘Zombie houses’, ones that have been abandoned and often bring down property values in the neighborhoods where they stand, can also pose safety risks, particularly to children who might want to explore them. Eric T. Schneiderman, New York's attorney general, announced last week the state was giving grants amounting to $12.6m to governments on Long Island and elsewhere to deal with these houses. The grants are part of the Zombie Remediation and Prevention Initiative.
Zombie houses are created when a homeowner abandons the property, but the lender never finishes the foreclosure. Most owners do not realize it, but they are still legally responsible for matters like fines for code violations, HOA fees, and property taxes. Zombie houses also frequently have other problems, such as gas leaks, squatters, and infestations of vermin and insects.
Agencies like these can benefit by creating Flyers explaining legal procedures to give to interested or concerned residents.
Get a Free Quote for Flyers
