A rental inspection program aimed at improving the safety and quality of single-family and duplex rental housing for tenants, while helping landlords meet basic property-maintenance standards may launch as early as winter. The program will be refined over 18 months with a pilot in the West Central neighborhood before going citywide.
Building Development Services Director Martin Gugel said he hopes to get an ordinance for the pilot program on City Council’s meeting agenda by fall and begin reaching out to landlords and tenants in West Central to educate them about the program. By winter, he hopes to launch online tool Tolemi to allow property owners to apply for their rental licenses.
“West Central is an area with a high concentration of rental properties, numerous blighted and nuisance cases, as well as the average age of structure being 102 years old. With approximately 1,541 single-family and duplex rental units, this phased approach enables us to test the program on a smaller scale, gather insights and refine it before citywide implementation,” Gugel said. “Piloting this program in West Central allows us to refine the process, learn from real-world experience, and demonstrate the program’s value to the community. A review after the first 12 months will ensure we stay flexible and responsive to the needs of landlords, tenants and stakeholders.”…