From Jansen Robinson, Chairman of the Edgewood Community Council. This letter was sent to Harford County Councilman Dion Guthrie, a copy was provided to The Dagger:
On behalf of the Edgewood Community Council, I am requesting that you pursue county legislation that would require landlords to register their residential rental property with the Harford County Government prior to renting to perspective tenants, or renewing the leases of current tenants.
Furthermore, I am requesting that as a condition of renting any residential property that land lords be required to conduct criminal background checks on perspective tenants.
That land lords be required to authorize Harford County Government to enact similiar provisions as applied to section 8 housing voucher recipients.
That these rental units be subjected to random quality of life inspections to include lease enforcement and that the results of these inspections be provided to Harford County Government. The cost of such inspections shall be borne by the landlord.
That land lords be required to provide Harford County Government in a sworn affadavit that the landlord in in compliance with the Harford County Rental Property Ordinance.
That owners and managers of apt complexes be required to comply with the same.
That land lords be held civilly liable for criminal activity commited by persons having rented residential property from them.
Are you willing to pay a higher rent to fund these requirements?
The Majority of the better community’s, that rent have back ground check’s etc.
I understand the motive behind the call for this, but in this real estate market, many that are trying to sell their home are forced to rent their home out because of it sitting on the market too long. Now you are asking to add additional costs to the “landlord”.
Maybe we can add this provision to landlords that rent 3 or more properties?
Any responsible landlord would want to do these things anyway as a way of protecting their investments. However, many of the homes in this area are trashy and the only people that are willing to rent them are those with criminal/drug backgrounds. Even those homes that are nice are surrounded by trashy homes and still can’t get law abiding clean individuals. These landlords are now in a pickle, they either rent to the criminal element or they have empty homes. What would you do if you are reliant on the income from that rental property? Section 8 already has legislation that revokes vouchers for those convicted of violent felonies and drug charges. The issue is that many of the criminal element are living illegally in the homes of their girlfriends and mothers.
FYI.
Section 8 Housing guidelines come under Housing and Urban Development ( HUD ). Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger represents Edgewood. He can be reached at http://www.dutch.house.gov or by calling 202-225-3061.
In the 2007 session, the General Assembly passed the Nuisance Abatement Law. HB 677 passed 136-0 and SB 577 passed 47-0. Both bills are identical. The Governor signed the senate bill. This was a Harford County Delegation Bill suggested By Sheriff Bane and the County Executive. The law is enforced by the county. Councilman Guthrie and the council are familiar with the ramifications of the Nuisance Abatement Law and supported the legislation.
You can contact my office for more information on this bill by calling 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3280. Email me at daniel.riley@house.state.md.us.
If it were my property, there will be No! criminal activity of any kind takeing place at any time. section 8 inspection’s are a joke. these people are notified in advance to prepare for the inspection.
Some take elaborate measures to hide there Boy Friend’s presence other’s just show there arrogance & disrespect for authority. as a renter told me you can’t inter the bedroom. I advised her I was doing and inspection as per her rental contract. she advised me her BABY was sleeping.
The baby was 6ft 2 and 240 lbs with a criminal back ground. actually went too do and inspection & 15 minutes later aberdeen’s drug inforcement raided the apartment.
And those guy’s don’t give notice!
As a homeowner and landlord, I can see the intent of this push, but also its flaws.
I think Steve is on the right track. If we set some threshold level (three properties sounds about right) for landlordship that requires registration, some of these issues seem much more addressable.
I’m a landlord because, like many, I never sold my previous home when I bought my new one. I’m not accumulating properties. I’m not a business. It just made sense for me to hold onto the house, because I didn’t have to sell it when I moved out. My dad and my brother are in the same situation.
That said, I can tell you we comply almost entirely with everything in Jansen’s proposal – as do the other occassional landlords I know. It’s just common sense.
No one wants a criminal living in their house … unless they have no other choice. But even criminals and those with a shady past need somewhere to live, right? What would the law say, that no one with a criminal history can rent a house or apartment in Harford County? Or would we have to keep on file with Harford County that we have a criminal living in our residence? Neither seems fair or right.
The random quality of life inspections don’t make much sense either. If a place is unliveable it seems like it should take care of itself. If it’s uninhabitable, why would anyone live there? And if no one will move in because it’s uninhabitable, the landlord would need to fix it up if he/she wants tenants. We can still pick and choose where we live, within our means. I don’t see a reason why liveability can’t be policed by tenants, or even prospective tenants, calling the county to tip off inspectors if a unit appears below code. I certainly shouldn’t have to foot another bill once a year to have an inspector pop in and check on my townhouse – which is in better condition than the single-family home I live in myself. If condions in the house get bad enough, my tenants will tell me to fix it up or they’re moving out.
Finally, I don’t like the idea of being civilly responsible for “criminal activity commited by persons having rented residential property from” me. I keep a pretty good eye on my tenants and have a good relationship with them, but don’t keep tabs on their day-to-day goingson.
This proposal seems to address a certain element – slumlords who cater to the criminal element. I think you begin that discussion by defining a landlord as someone with more than one rental property. In all honestly, we should probably start the discussion at 3 or 4 properties.
Will the world ever be cured of these “ideas?” Neither the government nor community own the property. Property owners should be able to rent to whoever benefits them. Renting to criminals costs time and money. If the community doesn’t like what is being done with a property, give the landlord enough trouble to make it beneficial to make things better. Don’t ask Sam to punish everyone… no one would benefit from these proposals.
I don’t know whats worse making landlords responsible for others actions or big brother dropping by any time. I guess Edgewood’s policy is “if it works in China…”
Wow… look at Delegate Riley trying to pass the section 8 buck as quickly pass possible. Those are some tough words for any politician to try to defend. Remember this is Maryland, we give all sorts of government benefits to convicted drug dealers. Why? Because we also gave them the right to vote back.
Local Guy
Not trying to pass any buck, especially the Section 8 buck. It is a federal program.
In 2000 we invited the head of HUD to come and speak at Edgewood High School. There he gave a committment to have no more large scale Section 8 in Edgewood. However single family homes can still become Section 8
it’s a very good program.it’s just aportion of the land lord’s that rent are absentee a side from the fact there greedy’ & could care less who is liveing there. all the program’s the goverment has sponsered.
Have & are being abused on any given day. food stamp’s can be bought on the street $ 50.00 Dollars for $ 100.00. ( wic) program Women infant children. milk egg’s cheese etc. $ 10.00 Dollars. saveing average $7.00 to $ 10.00 Dollars. the majority have nothing better to do than figure how to shaft the goverment that is trying to help.
Nuisance abatement… Didn’t Nancy Jacobs try to pass that as legislation in 2007 as part of her Gang Bills? Dion’s recycling of ideas and calling them his own is pretty silly.