Check here often for news and resources on the implementation of PA's new Conservatorship Act, the most far reaching tool enacted thus far for revitalizing blighted and abandoned property.

The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania advocated for the passage of the Blighted and Abandoned Property Conservatorship Act, Act 135 of 2008, to address blighted property and to restore it to use. The Act went into effect on February 24, 2009. The Housing Alliance is committed to supporting communities across Pennsylvania as they begin to use this new tool to reclaim abandoned and blighted properties.

Conservatorship is the appointment of a third party to take possession and control of a property in order to make repairs and return the property to productive use. The conservator is appointed by the court after a formal process and hearing, including notice to the owner and lien holders. It allows a property to be salvaged when the owner is not able or willing to step forward to make the necessary repairs.

As part of this effort, the Housing Alliance will maintain a clearinghouse of resources and news concerning Act 135 and its use across the Commonwealth. This webpage and the links below are the first step in this clearinghouse. In the future, we plan to use our website, as well as other media, to support an ongoing dialogue among advocates, service providers, municipal officials, residents and others involved in implementing the conservatorship legislation. Please check back often for updates!

If you have news on Conservatorship efforts in your community, or questions about its use, please contact us at blightedprop@housingalliancepa.org
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The Latest News!

Conservatorship Act Implementation and Best Practices Manual, from Regional Housing Legal Services - DRAFT
http://www.rhls.org/documents/ConservatorshipManualDec09Draft.pdf

Questions Raised on Germantown Conservancy's Conservatorship Filing
http://www.housingalliancepa.org/news/view.php?news_id=665

Borough of St. Clair is up and running with conservatorship!
http://www.housingalliancepa.org/news/view.php?news_id=653

Recent Action in Philadelphia Shows Potential of Conservatorship
http://www.housingalliancepa.org/news/view.php?news_id=654
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Background Info

Housing Alliance Takes Lead on Implementation of Conservatorship
http://www.housingalliancepa.org/news/view.php?news_id=652

Full text of Blighted and Abandoned Property Conservatorship Act, Act 135 of 2008
http://www.housingalliancepa.org/var/resourcefile/file/139-Act%202008-135%20The%20Abandoned%20and%20Blighted%20Property%20Conservatorship%20Act.pdf

Housing Alliance summary of HB 2188 Conservatorship
http://www.housingalliancepa.org/var/resourcefile/file/134-Conservatorship%20HB%202188%20PN%204521%20summary.pdf

Conservatorship Training Powerpoint - Housing Alliance of PA, October 2009
This slide presentation provides an introduction on how to use Pennsylvania's latest legislative tool for reclaiming abandoned property -- conservatorship.
Download the presentation via the link at the bottom of this webpage.

Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County General Court Regulation on Conservatorship -- Provides detailed procedural guidance in the filing and processing of petitions filed pursuant to Act 135
http://www.housingalliancepa.org/var/newsfile/file/351-Phila%20Co%20General%20Court%20Regulation%20No%202009-01.pdf

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