Jamestown Director of Development Crystal Surdyk presents on Rental Inspection Ordinance to City Council Housing Committee (July 8, 2024)
The City of Jamestown is closer to putting a new rental inspection ordinance into place.
Jamestown Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said the proposed ordinance will go hand in hand with a state public health law that will require the inspections of rental properties with two or more units, “But the state’s is really going to be primarily focused on lead poisoning prevention and lead abatement. And, so ours is more comprehensive than that.”
Surdyk said the city’s ordinance is intended to correct housing related problems before they reach the stage of condemnation.
She said her department is looking at changing a proposed fee structure for inspections of rental units, “What we initially proposed is a $50 per unit inspection fee. And so if somebody owns 30 units times $50 and haven’t had a code violation since 2010 that seems a little bit punitive. So, that’s some discussion that actually came up last week that we’d like to have and probably revamp that a little bit.”
Surdyk said options could include a stepped fee or waiving a portion of the fee based on the number of code violations that have been cited over a period of time. She said the fees are meant to help with the cost of having Code Enforcement Officers conduct the inspections. Surdyk said New York State has indicated there will be some funding provided to municipalities to help cover the cost of the initial wave of inspections. She said the city has been coordinating with the Chautauqua County Health Department on how the program will roll out as well as talking to the cities of Buffalo and Rochester who already have rental inspection programs in place to learn more about their process.
Surdyk said the city has been working with the local Real Estate Investor’s Association about the proposed ordinance to answer their questions, “They understand that this is not meant to be punitive to them and that we’re willing to listen to their concerns and take their suggestions. They are actually very much in support of this because they see the damage that these out-of-state, out-of-country LLCs are doing their properties and that they’re preying on them as much as they are preying on the rest of us.”
Surdyk said she’s heard the State will possibly release their plan in August. She requested City Council members continue to review the proposal and submit any questions or comments to her department.
Surdyk said she’d like Council to vote on the ordinance soon so that she can make the justification to the state for needed funds to do the program. She added she is still looking for additional avenues of funding including from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
It would help also if department of Social services would conduct inspections…..
How about giving Landlords a stopping point on how many properties they can have!! My landlord has over 60, and does not fix the things that need done! He owns to much to keep up, this has to change!
Maintenance of Property: According to Jamestown City Code, landlords are required to maintain their rental properties in a safe and habitable condition. This includes ensuring that the property does not pose any health or safety hazards to neighboring properties.
Noise and Disturbance: Jamestown City Code addresses noise disturbances, prohibiting excessive noise that disrupts the peace of neighboring properties. Landlords are responsible for ensuring their tenants comply with noise regulations to maintain neighborhood tranquility.
Property Use: Landlords must comply with Jamestown’s zoning laws and regulations. This ensures that rental properties are used appropriately within their designated zones, preserving the residential character of neighborhoods.
Trash and Debris: Jamestown City Code requires landlords to manage trash and maintain cleanliness on their properties. This helps prevent the attraction of pests and maintains neighborhood cleanliness.
Legal Compliance: Landlords in Jamestown must adhere to building codes and fire safety regulations, ensuring their rental properties meet safety standards and do not pose risks to neighboring properties.
What about holding a tenant to their Lease!
A landlord cannot be everywhere but I would suggest inspections by the owner every so often and do not rely on your maintenance or outside foundation such as Section 8 to inspect once a year. Out of state/country or area for that matter makes it difficult. Limiting would be a good idea.