WORCESTER — Saying that constituents have been reaching out to them to share their confusion over a letter launching the city’s new Rental Property Registration Program , city councilors Tuesday criticized the rollout of the registry as well as its $300-a-day noncompliance fine.
“Absolutely chaotic with people asking me questions about this,” Councilor-at-Large Donna Colorio said. “People don’t understand it.”
Some councilors said they were unable to answer constituent questions about several details related to the Rental Property Registration Program, which they unanimously approved in 2022.
The program requires owners of residential rental property to register each unit with the city.
Councilor-at-Large Khrystian King, the sole vote against the rental registry in committee, was absent for the vote when City Council formally advertised the program, according to meeting minutes.
A March 20 letter was when several residents said they first heard of the program.
Along with the noncompliance fine, the program has a nominal fee system in which first-time or new registration fees for residential, commercial or industrial units are $15 per unit. Annual renewals are $5 per unit. First-time or new registration of a lot is $25.