Homeowners associations in Las Vegas, Nevada are bent on intensifying their collection of delinquent fees from repossessed homes.

The metro areas of Las Vegas have a population of about 200,000 and one out of every 54 houses or 14,681 are repossessed homes. The May figures were seven times higher than the national average foreclosure rate. Data showed that the region’s foreclosure rate rose by 4 percent from April and 78 percent from May 2008.

As a result of the high foreclosure rate in the region, most homeowners associations are struggling to collect fees from repossessed houses and implement maintenance codes.

RMI Management President Kevin Wallace said that foreclosed homes are thorns on the side of homeowners associations. RMI manages about 230 homeowners associations that represent 75,000 units.

But homeowners associations need not fret anymore because two pieces of legislation can help them deal with neglected repossessed homes.

The Assembly Bill 204 gives homeowners associations extended superiority lien ability. Under the law, homeowners associations have the authority to collect 9 months of delinquent fees. Previous rule allowed associations to collect only six months of unpaid dues. This means that homebuyers are required to pay full association dues before they can get the ownership title.

Meanwhile, Assembly Bill 361 provides homeowners associations the authority to maintain the exteriors of repossessed homes. Most often, lenders neglect to maintain foreclosure homes which led to their deterioration and becoming blights to neighborhoods, dragging down surrounding property values.

The law gives homeowners associations the right to improve exteriors of foreclosed properties in a state of disrepair. Previously, associations could not make any move to repair deteriorating properties because of trespassing issues.

Now, homeowners associations can put fresh paint, drain pools, replace landscaping and do other works that could help prevent the deterioration of distressed properties. All the costs incurred will be passed on to homeowners who will be required to reimburse the homeowners associations before they can gain the ownership title.

Wallace said that foreclosure proceedings could take as long as one year and a half. He explained that the laws could greatly help homeowners associations lessen the devastating effects of foreclosures on neighborhoods.

Nevada is one of the top 10 states with high foreclosure rate. Last May, an increase in the number of bank repossessed homes has helped catapult the state’s foreclosure activity by 5 percent.