05-25-2005 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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RElournals.com - Rental ordinances put landlords in a tough position Page 5 of 7 Landlords and cities have the same goals, says Steve Radcliffe, president of Dominium Group in Plymouth. Both he and city officials want well- maintained properties and excellent residents, he says. But he agrees landlords cannot function as social service agencies. "We run very comprehensive criminal checks, but even the most stringent screening won't catch everyone," Radcliffe says. "Forcing the landlord to be accountable for each and every individual is wrong. What is wrong with making people be responsible for themselves ?" In August, Brooklyn Center approved changes to its rental licensing ordinance. Complexes with more than five units that average more than 0.65 police calls per unit per year will receive a provisional six -month license with a higher prorated cost than the regular, two -year license, according to an article published in the Sun Newspapers. A representative from Brooklyn Center did not respond to requests for comment. Other options Only a dozen metro area communities have rental licensing, according to a recent Multi Housing Association survey. The Anoka City Council discussed the possibility of a rental licensing ordinance, but decided in early 2003 not to pursue the issue. "We already have an ordinance to deal with blight and the condition of rental housing," says Mayor Bjorn Skogquist. "We agreed that we had not done everything to enforce the current ordinance." That law provides details for the upkeep of property, everything from leaky plumbing to adequate security. The city of Anoka appointed a property maintenance coordinator to oversee the enforcement of this ordinance. "We're trying to strike a balance between a laissez -faire attitude and the attitude that landlords are responsible for everything their tenants do," Skogquist says. "We realize there are bad apples, but the bottom line is the property does belong to the landlords and they need to deal with those people and get the property repaired." The Burnsville City Council also discussed the possibility of a http: / /www.mrej.com/story.cfin ?Market= MN &StoryID =12080 10/15/2003