OKC Having Trouble Getting Fines For Abandoned Homes

City leaders say the results of a year-old program to collect on fines when police and firefighters are called out to an abandoned building or home have been frustrated.

The plan is to have property owners pay the cost when officers are firefighters are called out to property that isn’t being cared for and is boarded up.

In most cases, the city said it can’t collect the money until the property owner plans to the sell the property and pay off the lien.

The city said the properties become tax write-offs for owners. Many times, according in Oklahoma City’s Chief Building Inspectors, people will wait years for property values to go up before they decide the sell the dilapidated structures.

“That’s the bargaining tool for them,” said Oklahoma City Chief Building Inspector David Oen.

Oen said the abandoned properties can become a haven for crime and the homeless.

Oen told News 9 there are 600 homes on their abandoned homes list and a total of about $90,000 has been billed out.

The fines range from $60 to $28,000.  However, the City has only be able to collect about $8,000 dollars. That’s a return of less than 9 percent.

“It’s frustrating,” said Oen. 

Oen said the city can’t afford to take over the properties if fines aren’t paid and demolish structures.