What is City Council up to now? "Residential Rental Registration Program"

[love roses]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

Yes, the City already has a website where you can file complaints about all of these things: City of Austin - Code Enforcement Overview

• Adult-Oriented Businesses
• Apartments/Rentals in Substandard Condition
• Businesses and Industry
• Construction or Remodeling without a Permit
• Dangerous Structures
• Fences
• Fire Damaged Buildings
• Garage Sales
• Garbage Carts Left at the Curb
• Illegal Dumping
• Junk & Accumulated Rubbish
• Mobile Vendor on Private Property
• Number of People Living in a Residence
• Running a Business from Home
• Signs
• Stagnant Water
• Storage of Vehicles
• Swimming Pools
• Tree Limbs Blocking Right-of-Way
• Weeds/Grass over 12 inches

If that's the case, then yeah, I can see how an additional law is unnecessary. In addition to the other possible motives, could it also be a covert money grab just for some extra dollars for the city?

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by love roses

In addition to the other possible motives, could it also be a covert money grab just for some extra dollars for the city?

Bingo! And an opportunity for some bureaucrats to add to their fiefdoms. What a PITA.

[austin-steve]

But doesn't that miss the point? Isn't there a City code enforcement apparatus already in place? This new "registration" requirement just seems like an opportunity to impose some additional fees for something the City is already doing.

Yes, there is code enforement in place, which serves mainly as a mechanism for tenants to abuse their landlords with petty complaints, which the code enforcement will readily admit off the record.

This is a stupid, unnecessary new ordinance that should be opposed on principle alone. For me, it's almost a "last straw" issue about Austin wanting to be a California-like do-gooder government overseer of everybody and everything. If a tenant has a problem with property condition, there is a free Tenant's Council to assist in following the needed steps to remedy the situation. There is also the code enforcement at COA.

I know property managers from across the country who live in various communities with similar ordinances. They accomplish nothing useful and represent massive government intrusion into private affairs of property owners.

Steve

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

Yes, there is code enforement in place, which serves mainly as a mechanism for tenants to abuse their landlords with petty complaints, which the code enforcement will readily admit off the record.

This is a stupid, unnecessary new ordinance that should be opposed on principle alone. For me, it's almost a "last straw" issue about Austin wanting to be a California-like do-gooder government overseer of everybody and everything. If a tenant has a problem with property condition, there is a free Tenant's Council to assist in following the needed steps to remedy the situation. There is also the code enforcement at COA.

I know property managers from across the country who live in various communities with similar ordinances. They accomplish nothing useful and represent massive government intrusion into private affairs of property owners.

Steve

I agree with everything you say here. I also suspect that atxcio is right, there is an ulterior motive for this beyond the "protect the public" stance.

Originally Posted by atxcio

Since it's coming from Laura Morrison, let's try to figure out what the "real" purpose of these regulations might be... my initial speculation would be that it's a way to control too many unrelated people living in the same property. Perhaps to target certain populations and nuisance properties... I'm guessing number of occupants would be under the "zoning, compliance and fire code" checks.

Plus, the "periodic inspection" aspect of these new regulations put the neighborhood groups in perpetual control of the rental properties, much like the noise ordinance waivers... giving them power similar to HOAs. Each year they have the opportunity to revoke the valid registration of a rental property, based on their complaints about code violations.

Focusing on "single family and duplex" rentals puts this right in the interest group of her central-Austin ANC buddies. Forget safety and compliance of apartment complexes...

[BentBow]

I don't see it effecting my rentals, unless they have to do an energy audit, and become compliant to some "green" laws or something.

I think it will help rid the places where 25 people, living in one house, or duplex, apartment, along with yard codes being enforced.

[gpurcell]

Originally Posted by atxcio

Since it's coming from Laura Morrison, let's try to figure out what the "real" purpose of these regulations might be... my initial speculation would be that it's a way to control too many unrelated people living in the same property. Perhaps to target certain populations and nuisance properties... I'm guessing number of occupants would be under the "zoning, compliance and fire code" checks.

And about time, too.