ORONO – Landlords who have not yet paid their rental registration fees on time – an annual problem for the town – face court action if they do not pay up by the end of this week.

A town ordinance on the books for several years now requires that all landlords register their rental units, at a fee of $25 per unit, by Sept. 1; landlords were sent their annual reminders of the fee nearly three months before that date. Despite that notification, and the fact that the fees are doubled when paid after the due date, there are several landlords who routinely pay late – in past years, some dragging four or five months behind. And 2015 has been no exception.

Also as in previous years, Code Enforcement staff recently sent foot draggers their final notices that court action will be taken – a step that typically spurs the slow payers to action. The last day they have to pay before going to court is this Friday, Nov. 20.

The town has just under 400 rental property owners. To date in 2015, $33,325 in fees, and $3,300 in late penalties, has been collected.