"We respond to complaints of illegal housing and we investigate them vigorously," he said.

And what happens to a tenant who is forced out of illegal housing?

Commuting times have gotten longer and illegal housing has proliferated.

"And I believe landlords are getting the message that the cost of maintaining illegal housing in the town has gone up."

It also provided off-and-on illegal housing to a number of marginal types.

"There's a tremendous amount of illegal housing here," he said.

While concerns vary with each association, there are certain common-priority issues, such as water, downzoning and illegal housing.

Enforcement of illegal housing is up to individual towns and villages.

When local law enforcement officials want to tear down illegal housing, they call in the army to insure that it gets done.

"This means that anyone living there is in illegal housing," Ms. Fink said.