Fees upped by $2.00 per rental unit to increase education and inspections.
In response to an increasing number of deteriorating rental properties, compounded by the current foreclosure crisis, Sacramento County has introduced a Rental Housing Registration and Inspection Ordinance, along with a fee increase for rental units in the unincorporated County. The ordinance went into effect on December 17, 2008.
“This ordinance will go a long way towards improving the quality of life and protecting housing conditions for our rental community,” said Code Enforcement Chief Carl Simpson. “Some of the conditions we see are deplorable - and many tenants are afraid to report substandard housing for the fear of retaliation. We must get rental units into a regular program of inspection to protect the public and stop the deterioration of our housing.”
The ordinance was crafted in partnership with representatives of the Rental Housing Association, other housing agencies, and key stakeholders who will work together to develop the complete program during the next year. The group will also do extensive outreach to owners and renters with full program implementation in 2010. Registration fees for rental housing were increased from $10 per rental unit to $12 per unit; the expected $150,000 in additional annual revenue will be used to establish a rental housing registry, provide an inspection training and certification program and conduct audits of housing inspections.
The ordinance is consistent with those in surrounding cities, though it allows for owner/agent certification and self inspections in an effort to minimize industry costs and share the burden of state mandated housing inspections. There is also a greater emphasis on owner/tenant education and violation prevention. ??The goal is to provide for a more methodical and regulated approach to housing inspections. Success will be measured by the number participants in the Housing Code Enforcement education and training program and the number of successful audits conducted.
In Brief:
Owners/agents must register all rental housing units and pay annual registration fees.
A training and certification program will be created to allow for independent trainers and inspection personnel.
Owners may conduct their own annual inspections.
Monitoring of the process and owner inspections with regular audits.
Rental units will be inspected on a five-year cycle; problem properties more frequently.