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STAFF Memorandum <br />Rental Inspections and Licensing Policy Discussion <br /> <br /> <br />To: City Council <br />From: Ben Gozola, Assistant Director DCAD <br />Meeting Date: 2-8-22 <br /> <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br />Historically, the City of New Brighton has tended to take a minimalist approach to regulation, but such an approach <br />requires the City to periodically review its policies to ensure they are working as intended. Complaints in recent <br />years from renters about living conditions in our non-licensed single-family homes and duplexes have called into <br />question whether the City’s current threshold of 3+ units to trigger rental licensing and inspection is still the <br />appropriate approach. At the 2-8-22 Work Session, staff is asking that Council discuss the City’s current rental and <br />licensing policy, and to provide direction on whether any changes are warranted at this time. <br />WHAT ARE THE PERCEIVED BENFITS OF CONTINUING THE CURRENT INSPECTION/LICENCING APPROACH? <br />• The current approach of licensing and inspecting only buildings with 3+ units has largely worked over the <br />years. <br />• Owners of single-family rentals and duplex rentals appreciate not incurring yearly charges and not having <br />municipal oversight of their properties. <br />• Current staffing levels are based on the existing number of units the City must inspect on a yearly basis. <br />Adding units to the inspection roster may require additional staffing. <br />WHAT ARE THE PERCEIVED BENFITS OF LICENSING ALL RENTAL UNITS IN THE CITY? <br />• All rental units would be treated equally and would receive the same level of inspection. <br />• New Brighton renters would know that regardless of how or where they rent, their unit meets the City’s <br />standards for rental occupancy. <br />• If/when issues do arise at a rental property, the City would have a record of who to contact to deal with said <br />issues at every rental property in the City. <br />• Fairness. Some would argue that a rental unit is a rental unit, so if one landlord is subject to a license and <br />inspection, all landlords should be subject to the same. <br /> <br />