Nesquehoning’s blight committee is looking to crack down on rental units that don’t register with the borough.

On Wednesday, Councilwoman Abbie Guardiani explained that there are approximately 450 rental properties that are known in the borough. Of that number, only 138 of those have paid to register as a rental property with the borough.

More surprisingly, Guardiani said, is that 48 of these properties have had their water shut off and two families are currently residing in two of these properties.

“Our goal at this point is to increase compliance with people with registrations,” she said, noting that postcards about registering will be sent out to landlords that they must complete an application for the 2024 season.

The current fee to serve as a rental is $10.

“Right now, we are about maybe half compliance so our goal is to at least get to 75% compliance,” Guardiani added.

One item that was also found in the current rental ordinance that has not been enforced is that all rentals must carry at least $50,000 insurance.

At this time, the borough has zero records for any property having this insurance.

In the upcoming months, the blight committee plans to address this application and update it to include the requirement.

Borough solicitor Robert Yurchak suggested penning a letter and sending it out by Sept. 1 with a start date of Jan. 1 that states that if the landlord does not comply with registration and fill out the required paperwork, the borough will go around and shut down the rental and any tenants living in that unit will need to be evicted.

“If they don’t have the license by the first of the year, then they will have to make sure all their tenants get out,” Yurchak said, noting that’s what other municipalities have put into place.

In other blight matters, Guardiani updated the board on several properties.

She said the two properties owned by Glenn Claypoole on West Catawissa Street were in the process of being sold, but she was told the closing was delayed due to the bank.

A warrant for his arrest has been issued for the homeowner of 151 W. Columbus Ave. for not signing for his citation. He also owns the former Lutheran church at the corner of Mermon and Catawissa streets, Guardiani said. According to county records, the properties are owned by Jpcpa LLC, however, in an article previously published in the Times News, the owner is Andy Pedraza of Long Pond.

A home on the 200 block of West Catawissa, which is connected to an occupied residence, is still in the process of getting transferred, Guardiani said.

She noted that the homeowner, who lives in Maine, says she will sign over the house to the next door neighbor, but has yet to sign the papers.

It was noted that the lawyer discovered she owes over $6,000 in back taxes on the property, which would need to be forgiven by Panther Valley School District, for the transfer.

Council also voted to apply for Community Development Block Grant and Local Share Account funds for demolition. No figure was announced.