City working on updating rental agreements and minimum housing standards for council approval.

Galesburg Aldermen went over rental inspection agreements and minimum housing standards and it was decided that updates needed to be made for both ordinances.  Director of Planning and Public Works, Wayne Carl confirmed that both ordinances are in place, but had not been updated since the late 1960s. “The idea behind the changes are to maximize our resources to target the problem areas,” Carl told WGIL. “We don’t want to be a burden for the majority of the landlords in town that do a great job with their rental units. We don’t want to create a bunch of extra paperwork for them. But we do want to identify the problem areas. We want all tenants, no matter where they live, to be in a decent, safe, and sanitary environment.” Through a committee and after meeting with several realtors, insurance agents, landlords, and tenants, Carl said the rental registration will now become a license. Most landlords will receive a self-checklist – the same checklist the city will use for inspections, so minimum standards can get “up and running.” A self-inspection will be done at the beginning of a lease agreement and the residence will be subject to an inspection every five years. Landlords with ten units or more will have a year to get inspections completed. “We plan on having some education sessions for landlords on the checklist,” Carl added. “Also there will be education for the tenants in regards to any changes. We’re not proposing any increase to the fee. It’s been at $15 for a long time and we’re going to keep it. Our goal was not to try to raise revenue, it was to try to improve the condition of the rental units.” The city will still do random inspections – so even “good” landlords that self-inspect, will still be subject to an inspection by the city. Carl said the idea isn’t to fine people or increase revenue, but to get things repaired.

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