Lansford council is perplexed over blight and rental properties. The previous meeting they called for a motion to Issue Writs of Execution on 18 properties. Do they foresee the destiny of the community when they sell peoples homes at tax sales? Out of state rental companies and investment firms buy them, rent them and leave.

Last year 181 properties in Lansford were sold, 21 were bought by out of state companies, 74 buyers were from PA but not residents of Lansford, and 86 had Lansford listed owners but 34 were LLC companies and known rental owners. So out of 181 properties, 52 were bought as homes.

This year in a quick search Lansford had 38 sold 13 were primary residence. (9 out of state, 16 out of borough) Summit Hill had 21 sold, 5 were primary residences. Nesquehoning had 29 sold, 11 were primary.

I believe the catalyst to this whole problem was bringing in a delinquent tax collector. The County Tax Collection Bureau was created to collect delinquent taxes. They sell your property after two years, but the fees are reasonable so a homeowner can become current.

Panther Valley brought Portnoff Law Associates to this area 24 years ago and in the past few years Lansford, Coaldale, Summit Hill and Nesquehoning followed suit. They triple the original tax bill and the local agencies don’t receive any extra money.

They target local governments with the promises of receiving money faster and refer to homeowners as scofflaws and slumlords. Their presentation boasts how they pass the fees to the delinquent homeowners. Did any of them ask, “what fees?” The fees they pass are the fees incurred by contracting with a predatory debt collector. The 5% fee charged by the county tax claim bureau would be the same amount Portnoff charged the borough for the postage on the initial letter.

Yet when your taxes are unpaid, there’s not a discussion by our council on the people put out on the street. And Portnoff is laughing all the way to the bank.

Holly Sharp

Lansford