Babylon Passes Law Taking Aim At Town's 400 Zombie Homes

BABYLON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Long Island leads the state in 'zombie homes' with an estimated 400 in the town of Babylon alone.

A new law was passed to stop the homes. It's called the mortgage in default registry, and it requires banks to give the town notice when a homeowner has not made their mortgage payments. The banks must keep up the homes so rodents, bugs, and high grass do not take over.

"The new code is very specific, and requires that when there is a change of bank in the mortgage that the town is informed, which will allow us to continue having that point of contact," Deputy Supervisor Tony Martinez told WCBS-880's Sophia Hall.

If the banks are in violation of the law, the town can fine them up to $5,000 every 15 days until the problems are fixed.