breakout session: rental registration program

BREAKOUT SESSION

RENTAL REGISTRATION:A CLOSER LOOK

Melissa GoveaCity of CoppellCEAT President

RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAMWHAT IS RENTAL REGISTRATION?

• Rental registration is an efficient tool for identifying and remedying dangerous code violations in rental properties. Rental registration programs require single-family and/or multi-family rental properties to register with the City by submitting a simple form with basic information about the property.

• Allows code officers the authority to inspect the exterior and interior of rental properties.

ImportanceImportance Ordinance Ordinance DevelopmentDevelopment

Registration Registration ProcessProcess

Inspection Inspection ChecklistsChecklists Q & AQ & A

RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAMIMPORTANCE

Single-Family Rental Properties Ensures tenants and landlords are involved in maintaining

single family homes in a safe and sanitary condition. Effective way to ensure a sustainable community and safe

housing is available in all of the neighborhoods. Improve overall condition of rental properties thus helping

retain existing property values within the affected neighborhoods.

Ensures rental properties meet minimum requirements set forth in the 2012 IPMC.


Multi-Family Rental Properties Maximize the safety of the occupants. Ensures that fire hazards, structural defects, and other

violations are eliminated. Maintains and enhances the apartment communities in

the City. Ensures rental properties meet minimum requirements

set forth in the 2012 IPMC.


Single-Family Housing – City of Coppell Total Housing Units – 14,726 Owner Occupied (70.2%) – 10,331 Renter Occupied (26.2%) – 3,861* Vacancy (3.6%) – 534

*Includes apartment units.


Multi-Family Housing – City of Coppell Number of Apartment Facilities - 9 Number of Apartment Units – 2,831


• Tenants lack the expertise to identify and report many types of dangerous code violations.

• Many tenants are afraid to report code violations for fear of retaliation.

• Rental registration programs allow officers to identify violations before they become hazardous and too expensive to repair.

• Rental registration programs are usually low-cost and cost-effective programs.

• The programs provide emergency contact information.

RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAMORDINANCE DEVELOPMENT

RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAMORDINANCE DEVELOPMENTWho needs building codes or ordinances? We all do! We rely on the safety of structures that surround us in our

everyday living.How reliable are they? Codes provide safeguards. Although no code can eliminate all risks,

reducing risks to an acceptable level helps.What is a building code or ordinance? Building Code - Practically, it is the government’s official statement on

building safety. Technically, it is a compilation of minimum safety standards which embraces all aspects of building construction-fire, structural, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical.

Ordinance – A law, statute, or regulation enacted by a Municipal Corporation.


• Purpose. This section sets forth the scope and intent of the ordinance as it applies to rental registration. This section establishes the broad purpose of the ordinance/code – to protect the public health, safety and welfare.• City of Coppell Purpose.

The City of Coppell recognizes a need for an organized inspection program of residential rental units within the city in order to upgrade rental units to meet city and state life safety, health, fire and zoning codes within the city and to provide a more efficient system for compelling both absentee and local landlords to correct violations and to maintain, in proper condition, rental property within the city. The city recognizes that the most efficient system to provide rental inspections is the creation of a program requiring the registration of all residential rental units within the city so that orderly inspection schedules can be made by city officials.


• Purpose/General.• Registration

Requirements.• Manner of Registering.• Transfer of Property.• Inspection Required.• Frequency of

Inspection.• Inspection of Multi-

Family.

• Inspection of Townhome(s).

• Rental Registration Inspection Required.

• Inspection Procedure.• Request for Inspection.• Exemptions.• Other Actions,

Prosecution, Court Cases.

• Failure to Register.

RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAMREGISTRATION PROCESS

• First step is to identify all the single family rental homes in your city.

• Next is notifying the owners and tenants of the new program and the requirements to register the properties with the city.

• Program Requirements. Fill out registration forms provided by the city. Annual deadline to register the property. Inspections required. Frequency of inspections for single-family and multi-

family.

RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAMREGISTRATION PROCESS

RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAMINSPECTION CHECKLISTS

RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAMINSPECTION CHECKLIST

Exterior – Main Structure Locks on doors. Doors and windows are weather-tight. Exits clear and unobstructed. Windows operable in sleeping rooms. Street numbers visible from street and alley. Exterior free from holes or gaps. Chimney (if any) in good condition and free of obvious disrepair. Handrails securely attached. Guardrails required if deck or platform is over 30 inches above

grade.


Exterior – Sanitation Property free of junk vehicles and/or equipment. Property free of litter, debris and trash. Swimming pool maintained in clean and sanitary

condition and in good repair. Fences well maintained. Grass and weeds are less than 12 inches. Waste receptacles are not overflowing and out of the

right-of-way. Accessory structure(s) in good repair.


Interior Smoke detectors provided in all bedrooms and area

outside bedrooms. Electrical fixtures free from obvious disrepair. Electrical outlets and switch plate covers provided. Plumbing fixtures free from obvious disrepair. Water heater provided.

TENANTS FORCED OUT OF APARTMENTS

RENTAL REGISTRATION PROGRAMQ & A• Is it necessary?• Why is it important?

Questions?

CONTACT INFORMATION

Thank you!

Melissa GoveaCode Compliance OfficerCity of CoppellCEAT [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

breakout session: rental registration program

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