Property tax liens and foreclosure pose a significant threat to older homeowners’ ownership and equity, with a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. On May 25th, the Supreme Court held in Tyler v. Hennepin that when a local government takes a home at a property tax foreclosure and keeps the homeowner’s equity after the tax debt is paid, it violates the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
In a webinar for Justice in Aging, National Consumer Law Center attorneys Andrea Bopp Stark and John Rao explain the case and its impact on older adults and property tax foreclosures. They also discuss how advocates can assist older adults, including exercising redemption options and connecting older adults with legal assistance to help them preserve their home equity.