NORWICH – The city is taking extra measures to ensure that codes violators aren’t able to avoid paying penalty fees when selling their property.

City Finance Director William Roberts reported to the Common Council this month that five property owners who acquired code violations fees over the past few years sold their properties before paying, leaving the city short a total of $2,258.

The city is exploring new ways to prevent similar incidents in the future, Roberts said.

Typically, when a home owner owes property taxes and sells the property, adjustments can be made in the lien agreement so that the buyer is not held responsible for paying those charges. This adjustment, however, is not applied to additional fees owed, including charges from code violations, said Roberts.