New York is imposing new requirements on mortgage lenders to maintain abandoned houses before foreclosure.
The law signed Thursday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatens banks with civil penalties up to $500 a day for failing to maintain residential properties once they're aware of vacancies.
The old law required they take responsibility following a foreclosure judgment. Cuomo says that has left hundreds of "zombie properties" across the state.
The new law also establishes an electronic statewide registry of abandoned homes, sets up a state hotline where neighbors can report them and requires notices to mortgage borrowers emphasizing their right to stay in houses until foreclosure.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
