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HomeMy WebLinkAbout38. Rental Housing RegistrationJHKOlH ON THE WATER TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Allen Davis Community Development Director DATE: June 9, 2016 RE: Schedule Public Hearing for Rental Housing Registration and Inspection Program This memo serves as a follow -up to the Rental Housing Program workshop from May 24, 2016. Comments received include: 1. The Rental Housing Advisory Board (RHAB) should be created simultaneously with the Rental Housing Program for education and training purposes only. Staff will prepare a draft Ordinance to create the RHAB and include the RHAB Ordinance as part of a Public Hearing. 2. The Re- inspection fee should not automatically go to double the inspection fee, even if allowed by state law. Staff will prepare a draft fee schedule to accompany the Ordinances for the Public Hearing. The program could allow for building permit inspection fees to substitute for re- inspection fees. Staff will examine the staff time necessary for the re- inspection and propose a fee schedule that includes re- inspections. 3. The proposed landlord loan program should be revised. The areas of concern are the interest rate charged and accounting for landlord violations history and any outstanding city taxes or fees. Staff will revise the proposed loan programs and could also review the proposed program with the proposed RHAB, prior to action by the City Council. 4. City staff will attempt to work with tenants, where possible, for violations like parking on the grass and junk & debris. The tenant will be cited one time for those code violations. However, the property owner will still have ultimate responsibility for the property complying with state and city codes, and if the tenant fails to bring the property into compliance, the landlord is still responsible. 5. Paragraph 2(f) will be re- written to clarify the registration requirement: "All Residential Rental Dwelling Units shall be registered prior to occupancy by a tenant." 6. The Inspection Fee of $125 would be charged for each unit. In cases the tenant does not allow interior inspection, an exterior inspection would still be conducted and so noted on the record. The Inspection Fee would be the same for combined interior and exterior inspections and an exterior -only inspection. Staff has received the attached letter from the Realtors Association of North East Wisconsin in regard to the Rental Housing Program. The letter is attached. Proposed Schedule for consideration and adoption of draft Ordinance: A Public Hearing and first reading for the Rental Housing Program and Rental Housing Advisory Board ordinances at the June 28, 2016 City Council meeting. This would also include a proposed fee schedule for inspections and re- inspections. The draft ordinances and fee schedule could then be placed on the July 12, 2016 City Council agenda for possible adoption. Staff would still be able to begin the registration program and education in the summer, with inspections to begin after mid - September. The details of the possible loan programs that were discussed at the workshop could be adjusted through the summer, simultaneously with the draft ordinance, and be approved by September 1, 2016. Multiple Listing Service, Inc. MEMORANDUM TO: Oshkosh City Council FROM: REALTORS® Association of Northeast Wisconsin (RANW) DATE: May 26, 2016 RE: Rental Registry and Inspection Ordinance W6124 Aerotech Drive Appleton, WI 54914 -7503 www.ranw.org The REALTORS® Association of Northeast Wisconsin (RANW) appreciates the opportunity to share a few thoughts regarding the pending ordinance creating a landlord registry and inspection program. On behalf of our members and property owners that we represent, we respectfully request that the council give consideration to changes to the portion of the ordinance pertaining to the re- inspection fee. The re- inspection fee as currently proposed is $250 which is the highest amount allowed by state law and is considerably higher than other communities with similar ordinances. We believe that making the following changes to the re- inspection fee would create better incentives for landlords to make a good faith effort to maintain their properties and make timely repairs while creating a disincentive for the need for repeated appointments due to noncompliance. • Keep the fee for the first re- inspection as low as possible ($25 -$50) with an escalating schedule for each additional inspection until the property has addressed all needed repairs. • Waive the re- inspection fee if the property owner needs to pull a building permit for needed repairs (an inspection is already required as part of that permit process). RANW would also like to voice our support for the creation of a Rental Advisory Board. Issues surrounding rental housing and tenant issues can often be very complicated. An advisory board would allow a group of experts to work together to provide a sounding board as problems arise and provide recommendations on educational opportunities as well. Finally, we also highly support the flexibility provided for property owners who may t may need a larger scale of work and repair provided that they work with the City to create a plan of action and timeline to address problems sequentially. REALTOf?O is a registered trademark which identifies a professional in real estate who subscribes to a strict Code of Ethics as a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS`s [13 PHONE: 920 - 739 -9108 FAX: 920 - 739 -9149 FROM: Fox Valley REALTOR` `O "UNIT° oPPwa� ruxrtr 920 - 494 -8010 800 - 817 -7657 800 - 817 -7657 920 - 494 -8485 800 - 661 -4141 800 -661 -4141 Green Bay Oshkosh Fond du Lac / Waupaca / Shawano q® y ,