Renters Still “Regularly” Pressured in Illegal Evictions When Buildings Enter Foreclosure in Connecticut, Despite Year-Old Federal and State Protections; Legal Services Orgs and Governor Press for Compliance
Legal Services E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Author: Ken Dixon
Source: “Blumenthal Wants Tenants’ Protection in Foreclosures,” Connecticut Post
Date: February 2, 2010
The Connecticut Post reports: “Hundreds, if not thousands, of Connecticut renters, unaware of their rights in property foreclosure proceedings, have been illegally intimidated and evicted by real estate companies, banks, lenders and law firms, officials say. Legal aid lawyers and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal charged on Monday [Feb. 1st] that the tactics have been occurring regularly, despite a nearly year-old federal law protecting tenants. Blumenthal has targeted 30 real estate companies, lenders and law firms, sending cease-and-desist notices reminding them that tenants whose rent is paid up have rights, even if their former landlords had money problems and relinquished their properties . . . . Legal aid lawyers said that the illegal evictions have been occurring regularly since last spring, when a federal law took effect protecting renters from new owners who might pressure them to move, even though their former landlord's troubles had nothing to do with their tenancy . . . . Richard L. Tenenbaum, regional director of the Bridgeport-based nonprofit Connecticut Legal Services, said that lenders, realtors and their attorneys take advantage of tenants' lack of knowledge on eviction law to push them out illegally or to give them small amounts of money to move, when they're eligible for much more.”