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8A Guide to Proactive Rental Inspection Programschangelabsolutions.org <br />Types of Rental Housing Included Within the Program <br />A locality must also decide on the types of rental housing to include in its program. The <br />types of housing included are usually determined by the most pressing needs in the <br />community and by the availability of resources for inspection and enforcement. <br />Targeting Particular Neighborhoods <br />Some localities, particularly when first initiating a rental housing inspection program, <br />target particular neighborhoods or areas. This can enable a locality to focus limited <br />resources where they are most needed. <br />Sacramento, for example, piloted a rental housing inspection program by targeting two <br />neighborhoods, each of which contained a large number of rental properties with a high <br />incidence of dangerous building cases, code enforcement cases, and police and fire <br />calls for service.34 The program was successful and, in 2008, Sacramento expanded the <br />program citywide.35 <br />Similarly, Kansas City, MO expanded its program incrementally, implementing the program <br />initially in areas where 30 percent or more of the housing units were rentals, the housing <br />inventory was basically sound but exhibited substantial deterioration, and neighborhood <br />residents had expressed interest in a systematic housing inspection program.36 <br />Beginning in 1986, St. Louis required a certificate of inspection with each change in <br />tenancy in certain housing conservation districts.37, 38 This policy was expanded to cover <br />the entire city in 2012 because it had proven successful in sustaining and improving the <br />quality of residential housing, and city officials determined that it could be helpful in <br />enforcing minimum housing standards and securing the health and safety of all St. Louis <br />residents.39 <br /> Practice Tip <br />Phasing in the initial inspections <br />over time or targeting particular <br />neighborhoods can help to ease the <br />transition from a complaint-based <br />program to a systematic one.32 <br />PHASING IN PRI PROGRAMS <br />A PRI program requires a substantial <br />initial investment of time and <br />resources. An early audit of Los <br />Angeles’ program found that the <br />goal of inspecting every multi-unit <br />rental property every three years <br />was not achievable at first because <br />of backlogs and the length of time <br />inspections took. The auditor <br />recommended several strategies, <br />including inspecting the oldest <br />properties first, conducting initial <br />drive-by exterior reviews, focusing on <br />properties with histories of complaints <br />and/or non-compliant owners/ <br />tenants, and establishing staggered <br />review schedules from three to five or <br />more years based on selected criteria <br />(e.g., rent, location, history).33