Columbus, OH – March 10, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, Senator Edna Brown (D-Toledo) provided sponsor testimony in the Senate State and Local Government Committee on a bill that would prohibit water authorities from placing liens on a property for delinquent water bills from previous owners.
“This issue came to my attention when a homeowner in my district had their property taxes diverted to pay a 20-year old delinquent water bill from a previous owner,” said Senator Brown. “Senate Bill 99 protects buyers from any delinquent water bills that are not registered with the County Auditor at the time they purchase a home.”
Under current law, water authorities may place liens on a property for water bills of any age regardless of changes in ownership. Senate Bill 99 gives the buyer or seller of a property the opportunity to request and pay a final water bill at the time the property is sold. If no charges are reported at that time, the water authority cannot place a lien on the home for bills due prior to the sale they may discover at a later date.
Senate Bill 99 has received bipartisan support from Senator Charleta B. Tavares (D-Columbus), Senator Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights), Senator Bill Beagle (R-Tipp City), and Senator Bill Seitz (D-Cincinnati).
