Claremont Looking to Acquire Eight Buildings From Absentee Landlord

The city of Claremont is looking to continue a plan to take eight rundown properties from an absentee landlord, reports the Union Leader.

According to Claremont City Manager, Twin State Properties owes the city over $271,000 on eight buildings. According to Morris, most are crumbling or are in dire need of work. Last year, Morris went to the city council with the idea to take properties from the absentee landlord through the tax deeding process, but the council was hesitant because of the potential for the city to incur liabilities due to the state of the buildings. Morris states that the buildings have continued to deteriorate in the past year, and that the city has received no money from Twin State Properties.

The company’s owner, Frank Sargent, reportedly owes money to multiple entities on multiple properties. He currently owes the IRS close to $70,000 and has an IRS lien on his properties. The properties are close to $2 million in liens, city taxes included. According to city records, the most recent sales price on the buildings total $226,200.

Morris is looking to take the properties off the market so they can be put to good use generating property tax revenue for Claremont.