HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-16-2014 SS1 MohanChristian, Kevin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Anthony J. Mejia, MMC
San Luis Obispo City Clerk
Anthony Mejia
City Clerk
Q
City Administration
City Clerk's Office
990 Palm Street, San
E amejia @slocity.org
T 805.781.7102
slocity.org
COUNCIL MEETING: 12, (L V J Z0%!
ITEM NO.: -15!5 L -_
Mejia, Anthony
Monday, December 15, 2014 7:40 AM
Christian, Kevin
FW: Rental Housing Inspection Program Options
Luis Obispo, CA 93401 -3249
From: Terry Mohan
Sent: 12/15/2014 7:14 AM
To: Marx, Jan; Ashbaugh, John; Carpenter, Dan; Christianson, Carlyn; Meiia, Anthony; Rivoire, Dan
Subject: Rental Housing Inspection Program Options
Council members,
DEC 15 7014
After reviewing the proposed options submitted for the proposed Rental Housing Inspection Program
I could see that the slant against it's implementation is decidedly in favor of the
speculator /profiteer. In the Cons section of both options there are only two items not pertaining to the
supposed adverse effects on those business owners. Where is the Con stating that renters are
having their safety and welfare threatened by unscrupulous property owners by not approving the
most protection this ordinance could offer. How about the Con that renters are being taken
advantage of after signing leases only to find these same speculators fail to keep their units up to the
lawful building code and are threatened with eviction it they complain. I think you need to turn the
purpose of this ordinance around from the perspective of "intrusion" against the property owners to
that of a consumer protection ordinance for the renters. It is about time that the city enacts this
protection along with the smoking ban and drive through ban for the health and safety of is residents,
both homeowners and renters
The ultimate cost to the tenants in both options are relatively the same and even less in Option Two
as the more units covered spreads the costs out more. I don't believe renters would balk at paying
what amounts to less than an extra ten dollars a month to make sure their toilets work, there are not
dangerous electrical connections in their units or other code violations common in many of the city's
rentals. As far as coordinating inspections in the Expanded Program, the multi unit property's this
would pertain to mostly have live in managers so if they have to be available for separate inspections
I don't see where that would be any inconvenience.
With the housing rental business as the largest commercial enterprise in our community and it's
effects on everyone in the community it should be regulated by the city to ensure that all residents are
being treated fairly. The rental business in San Luis Obispo is quite lucrative and I doubt that any of
the real estate owners will be so adversely affected by this ordinance, save that they might be forced
to comply with the building code laws which they have been flaunting for additional profit for years,
that they will be forced out of business. Like they tell their tenants, if they don't like the business
climate here they can move on.
To enact this ordinance with the annual inspections in the Option 2 Extended Program would be the
best consumer protection for the residents of these rental properties and the neighborhood residents.
- Eliminate the Self- Certification Incentive but offer a training manual to both landlord and tenants to
what is expected of each.
- Keep the re- inspection disincentive but not the High Fines disincentive. As we have seen by the
property at 1179 San Carlos these can be politically manipulated, unfairly administered and
supposedly expensive to justify in court.
- Mobile home rentals should not be exempt while the other proposed exemptions seem redundant-
- Fees should be set at full cost recovery.
The only detrimental effect the passage of this ordinance would have on property owners, as I stated
before, would be to force them to comply with the law, which they are supposed to be doing anyway.
I hope to see the letters submitted by the realtor's and landlord's posted in the agenda
correspondence, like Ms. Anderson's quoted in the Tribune, as I would hate to think these property
owners are getting some non - transparent, behind the scenes preferences, not allotted to the city
residents.
Terry Mohan
2416 Santa Clara
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401