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It’s a common theme to see properties stuck in probate, owned by unreachable heirs, or occupied by vulnerable individuals. These properties can end up spiraling into disrepair, becoming a drain on city resources and a threat to surrounding neighborhoods. Cities can respond proactively by leveraging court-appointed receiverships, which place control in the hands of neutral professionals empowered to stabilize and restore these properties.

Nuisance and dilapidated properties often place a significant burden on public safety agencies. Fire departments responding to incidents at vacant or unsafe structures can incur thousands of dollars per call, depending on the severity and resources required. These costs cover personnel time, apparatus use, equipment wear, and liability risk. Repeated calls due to fires, squatting, overdoses, or hazardous conditions can result in annual emergency response costs of thousands of dollars in high-impact areas, overwhelming city resources that could be directed toward other areas. The receivership remedy offers cities a structured way to intervene before these costs spiral further. By appointing a receiver to handle the work under court supervision, abatement costs come out of the property’s equity rather than burdening the city’s resources or taxpayers.

Receivership is a court-ordered remedy that puts a disputed asset—be it real property or a troubled business—under the control of a third-party neutral receiver. When applied strategically, the receivership remedy can be very effective. Our team has been able to solve a wide range of complex cases that required creativity, compliance, and community-minded leadership.

Health and Safety Receiverships are a remedy for distressed properties, which are known as a public nuisance under the law. In a receivership, a receiver is appointed by the court to revitalize nuisance properties after a lawsuit has been filed against the property owner. In these situations under public nuisance law, the receiver will often work with local law enforcement and fire departments until the situation is resolved.

Californians are well aware of just how damaging fires can be. Every year, California’s firefighters respond to hundreds of thousands of fire calls, including wildfires, vacant building fires, electrical fires, and more. When it comes to abating fire hazards, health and safety receivers are an essential resource within the state. The motivating force in all health and safety receiverships is to address substantial health and safety risks that affect property owners, tenants, and their surrounding communities. This includes fire hazard abatement.

Receivers are often appointed by courts to revitalize and potentially oversee the sale of nuisance properties. What Is a Nuisance Property? Nuisance properties are those that are in some form of distress due to being neglected or abandoned. These properties often present health and safety concerns, code violations, and even neighborhood blight. Signs of a nuisance property can include: Abandonment Severe disrepair Dilapidation Safety code violations Criminal activity

Court-Appointed Partition Referees and Post-Judgment Receiverships Business relationships sour, married couples split up, and family members can’t agree on what to do about a property they share. When these situations can’t be resolved through other means, the courts may appoint a partition referee.

It is in the best interest of every municipality in California to address the blighted, abandoned, and dangerous properties that damage property values and create risks for the entire community. This is where a city receivership program comes in and can be highly beneficial for improving such situations.