Agenda - Council - 10/27/2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Rental Licensing Overviews Andover • Program started in 2009 o Mainly to keep track of rentals in the city. • Inspections are performed by the assistant city planner- only the exterior of house o Looking at yard, house upkeep, junk cars, etc. • Permits are $50 for two years and inspections are every two years. • The program is generally considered a success • Property owners don't seem to mind, the fees are quite low compared to neighboring cities • They do inspect the interior of multi -family including town -homes, just not for single-family. • They track crime data relating to each rental property, this is shared with the police. • If there is a problem with a property during inspections the assistant planner calls the landlord and gives them a few weeks to work on it. Then they reinspect. Blaine • Program started in 2006 o Lots of complaints about substandard properties • They require licenses for all rentals • Administered through the fire inspection department- They have 2 inspectors who just do property rentals • Blaine has 1350 licenses • They catch landlords trying to evade the program all the time, either when neighbors call to complain or when utilities get contacted by a renter and call the city to report it. • The City charges a $60 per month late fee on rental licenses if a landlord does not register and starts renting the building • There is an initial inspection of interior followed by another inspection every 3 years o Every year there is an inspection of the building's exterior • $190 for one unit, otherwise $180 +10 for each additional unit • Has been a success, many run-down houses have been improved • Landlords don't like the program but neighbors love it • No crime free housing programs are required. Champlin • Program is 10 years old • Started because of excessive police calls that were ultimately found to be related to rental properties o These calls were causing a lot of neighborhood distress and there didn't seem to be any other way to address them. • Inspections take place initially and then every three years for all structures with less than 5 units