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22A Guide to Proactive Rental Inspection Programschangelabsolutions.org <br />Evaluation <br />Evaluation is an important, though often overlooked, component of government <br />programs. The purpose of PRI programs is to preserve housing stock, improve habitability <br />for tenants, and ensure that the locality receives property taxes. In these days of <br />shrinking public resources, it is important to make certain that programs achieve their <br />desired outcomes. Also, to ensure effective funding mechanisms, it is necessary to <br />evaluate the costs of programs versus the revenue generated by their fees and penalties. <br />Under Boston’s systematic rental inspection program, an annual report must be provided <br />to the city council detailing the activities of the program, including the number of <br />inspections requested and performed each month by the various types of inspectors, <br />the total number of violations identified through inspections, the number of exemptions <br />requested and granted, the number of violations prosecuted, the amount of fines levied <br />and collected, and an overall assessment of the program and plans for improvements.154 <br />Beginning in 2014, Seattle, which adopted a periodic rental inspection program in <br />2012, will require an annual report to the city council that will include an evaluation of <br />properties’ registration status (including details about any previously unidentified housing <br />units that have been discovered); property owners’ compliance in allowing inspections to <br />be completed within the applicable 60-day timeframe; the results of inspections where <br />properties have a previous history of violations; whether the program fees actually reflect <br />the program costs; the number of inspections that have resulted from complaints; the <br />extent to which the civil warrant process has been used; and any audits and findings on <br />inspections.155 <br />Kansas City, MO requires its city council to review its program provisions and <br />requirements at least every two years to determine whether to maintain, modify, or <br />terminate the program.156 <br />Staff in Santa Cruz, CA will provide their city council with a report of rental housing units <br />saved and lost following the first round of proactive registration and inspections.157