The first true "discovery" meeting regarding enhanced code enforcement has occurred, and I actually feel encouraged of the perspective changes this committee will bring to our city.My hopes are that the rental collective who were there, collecting names and numbers to have other investment property professional join ranks with them, are not going to fight every measure, every step of the way. Indications from the statements made by Harrison would indicate that they may in fact do so.
I did take particular note of Councilman Prices comments referring to our code enforcement officer as "a Barney Fife with a clip board and pen"... That too is a little discouraging.
What the members of this committee need to realize and focus on is the laws are all ready in place, well seasoned and have stood the test of time. What fundamentally has been lacking, which has brought us to this point, is the enforcement of such codes by the various governmental departments whose job it is to do so.
Inevitably, this will again lead to the need of a City Court, where the work of Pam Badger, and the yet to be named Second Code Enforcement Officer can be followed up on, and proper fines dispensed, or further legal actions taken if need be. We can no longer rely on a system where repeated letters are mailed, trying to threaten a neglectful property owner into compliance.
And yes a VERIFIED registration program for rental properties will help some, until they start realizing some of the registers are no more than intangible ghost names. There also needs to be inspections done, if the property is keep up to minimum codes, the property owners have nothing to worry about, if it is NOT up to code, the subsequent re-inspections is where fees should be instituted. Let the Slumlords pay for the program, NOT the law abiding Landlords who keep their properties clean , safe and inhabitable.
3 comments:
Hang in there Chris.
If they are stepping across the room to talk to us after the meeting, we at the very least got their attention.
the trick now is to keep it!
I am duly impresses with the turn out from the "rental collective", and more impressed by their willingness to agree on many points that were made during the meetings.
I am a firm believer in the fact that there is a significant difference, as I stated, between a slumlord and a landlord, and to me, as a businessman, it would make sense to me for those who fall under the landlord catagory to support any measures which would improve the housing stock of the city, which will lead to a higher desirability, and increased potential for better clients, and justifiably higher rent, which people will be willing to pay.
Christopher D said:
it would make sense to me for those who fall under the landlord category to support any measures which would improve the housing stock of the city, which will lead to a higher desirability, and increased potential for better clients, and justifiably higher rent, which people will be willing to pay.
Exactly. Which is right where we stand as landlords.
As for Councilman Price, well I think the fact that he owns rental property and is not in favor of having any time of inspection or regulation program says quite a bit. And what a disgraceful thing to say about Ms. Badger, perhaps he could stand behind her and follow up with the attorney.
If we got a better system in place regarding the following up of tickets and the punishment of unpaid fines well...just ask Ms. Wisman how much money they've made since people have been told they're not allowed to renew their drivers license's until their tickets are paid. All thanks to their new electronic coding and ticketing system.
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