TESTIMONY TO THE SENATE JUDICIALPROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE

RE: SB 829  REAL PROPERTY-TENANTS IN FORECLOSUREPROTECTION ACT POSITION: STRONG SUPPORT

By Ruth Crystal, LEAGUE OFWOMEN VOTERS OF MARYLAND

The League ofWomen Voters support equality of opportunity in housing;   the right to live in safe, decent,affordable housing should not be denied based on  income or ownership status.  Last year the Legislature passed severalbills aimed at protecting homeowners caught in the foreclosure crisis.  However, national statistics show that one infive foreclosures are on investor owned properties. Both the tenants living inthe home and the neighbors surrounding it will benefit if the tenants areallowed to remain in the home while negotiating a new lease with the new ownerrather than evicting them and having a vacant property blight the neighborhood.

SB 829 will changethe law so that when a property is sold at a foreclosure sale, the tenants’rental agreement will not be terminated. The lease will continue until the originalexpiration date or for three months, during which time the tenant and new ownercan negotiate to extend or renew the lease. The new owner will continue to have the same duties as the prior owner,such as maintaining the property. The tenants can make appropriate housing arrangement and not be homeless; and the neighborhood is spared a suddenly vacanthouse.  

Please protect the renters of Maryland; they often have lower incomes than home owners and shouldnot be penalized by eviction because of theirlandlord’s failure to pay a mortgage. LWVMD asks that you vote affirmatively on SB 829.

SB 829 will providethat notice to renters  This billprovides important information to the tenants threeimportant times:  when the foreclosure case is filed in court,  when the foreclose sale isscheduled, and  when thecourt orders the eviction of any occupants. The notices tell the tenant how to get more information, the earliest date on whichthey  could be evicted,and who to talk to about continuing to rent theproperty.

Please protect the renters of Maryland; they often have lower incomes than home owners and shouldnot be penalized by eviction because of their landlord’s failure to pay amortgage.  LWVMD asks that you voteaffirmatively on SB829.