Voluntary rental inspections could kickoff by June

By Brandi Makuski

City leaders plan to implement a new, voluntary inspection program for rental properties that could be in place by summer.

The proposal, brought forward by Neighborhood Improvement Coordinator Mark Kordus, was unanimously approved by the public protection committee on March 12, and solidifies the city’s attempt to hold landlords accountable for the condition of their rental properties.

Kordus said establishing some kind of inspection standard for rental units was among his first priorities after being hired last year. Since then, he’s been working to compile results of a citywide survey related to housing issues, and taking input from the UWSP Student Government Association, as well as the Central Wisconsin Apartment Association.

“The state has made so many changes…it’s virtually impossible to make a mandatory program successful, or implemented over the long-term,” Kordus said, adding it’s taken multiple conversations with some landlords to reach an acceptable consensus.

If ultimately approved by the city council on March 19, the program would allow landlords the option of either having their properties inspected by the city, or by licensed building inspector hired privately by the property owner.

If a third party conducts the inspection, Kordus said, they would be required to complete an affidavit affirming they have no connection to the property they inspect.

“They can’t have an ownership interest in the properties they inspect, they can’t work for the management companies of the property they inspect, and they can’t have a business interest in any of those properties,” he said.

Council President Meleesa Johnson said she worried about the verification process of privately-hired inspectors, adding many property owners actually form an LLC within which to operate their rental properties, and some have silent partners.

“But [city] council is also at liberty to strike that [ability to hire privately], if they wish,” Johnson said.

“Absolutely…I would caution on that, though. That was a sticky wicket for landlords,” Kordus said, advising Johnson the proposal was some kind of measurement the city would be able to oversee.

Councilwoman Heidi Oberstadt she, too, heard from landlords who insisted on being able to hire private inspectors.

“If—for a legitimate or illegitimate reason—they felt burned by the city in the past, they were highly unlikely to want the city to come back into their house,” she said. “To have the opportunity for somebody else to come in and do the inspection, they were really passionate about that.”

Heidi also said private inspectors would alleviate extra burden on city staff.

Kordus said landlords would be provided a property maintenance checklist prior to any inspection, but added the city was offering an incentive for landlords who utilized city-employed inspectors: a discount of 50 percent on the inspection fee.

“A lot of those management companies, having our checklist, I suspect they’ll be giving it to their maintenance people so these things are checked for on a regular basis,” he said. “The idea is to kind of reward landlords who are taking care of their properties.”

Mayor Mike Wiza said the proposal should give renters a “reasonable assurance” that landlords have a minimum set of standards in place prior to signing a lease.

The city would list all inspected properties, likely on the Stevens Point website, he said, and mark each as to whether it was inspected by the city, or a private entity.

Properties that aren’t inspected will become “less sought after,” he said, and eventually encourage them to participate.

“It’s one of the biggest complaints I’ve heard all over this city, rental properties,” said Councilwoman Cindy Nebel. “One of the biggest priorities, when we created the Old Main Neighborhood Association, was rentals becoming slum rentals. We felt bad for our students; I’m really glad we are doing this.”

For a list of fees associated with the new program, click here.