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CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> housing. I want to underscore there are many good landlords. It was wonderful to hear those <br /> accounts but there are some who are really preying on my neighbors. Why does that persist? I just <br /> learned a couple months ago, a block from my house there is a family that moved in in June, and <br /> they found out in September that they don't have heat. They have three(3) children and they were <br /> dealing with space heaters. I haven't been able to connect with them and I don't know what their <br /> situation is now but that is a case with a bad landlord. I wouldn't have known that walking down <br /> that street many times. They didn't call. The broader context I wonder is what is the state of the <br /> law that makes tenants fearful about lodging complaints against bad landlords? I think that's an <br /> issue with Indiana State Law. That is part of this context and that is why local ordinances like this <br /> are really critical to hold those landlords accountable and to be able to provide safe and decent <br /> housing for our neighbors. Again, as a homeowner who has neighbors living in substandard <br /> housing, as a landlord who manages a home and as someone who works in a neighborhood, I'm <br /> really supportive of this initiative. Thank you for considering it. <br /> Alicia Ortiz, 6212 US Highway 247, stated, I have rental properties in South Bend. I am also the <br /> chairman for the Legislative Committee for the Indiana State Real Estate Investors. In one (1) of <br /> the slides of the presentation it said eighty-one percent(81%) of the housing stock in South Bend <br /> has lead conditions. One(1)of the main focuses of this inspection is on lead.Why are only children <br /> in rentals being worried about?All children should be important in owner-occupied and in rentals. <br /> If you're going to inspect rentals for lead, owner-occupied should be inspected also because those <br /> children are just as important as children in rentals. Also mentioned was Bloomington and the <br /> West Lafayette ordinance, that was grandfathered into the State Law. There is a State Law that <br /> covers the majority of the things in this ordinance and I don't think that was followed. The fees <br /> that are charged, by law, could be passed onto tenants, so you're raising rents. Every time you <br /> charge a fee, you're raising rents because we can pass that on. It was mentioned that the eight <br /> hundred dollars ($800) was going to help move the tenant. The fees that are collected can only be <br /> used to run the program. There can be no charge for inspections or certificates. The financial <br /> impact of this program is going to be a lower tax base. Landlords from this City are already calling <br /> Indianapolis saying they are getting rid of their rental properties. I was down there all day today <br /> in Committee meetings. My last question is, they are expected to do twenty percent(20%), which <br /> is 3,200 houses within three (3) years. What if they have 4,000 rentals that are in this four (4) <br /> month evaluation period? How will they handle that? <br /> Steve Weldy, 54500 Ironwood Drive, stated, I'm a local realtor and have been for nearly thirty <br /> (30) years. I have a lot of concerns about the program but am very sympathetic to the desired <br /> effects of the program to protect tenants and their health. I think something needs to be done. I'm <br /> not sure this program is the appropriate way to do it. It is sort of the typical shotgun approach, <br /> hitting everybody, good or bad, to try and solve a limited problem. I think there has got to be a <br /> much more effective and targeted way to hit the problem landlords.The unanticipated consequence <br /> of this well-intentioned program is, one(1)more program that adds a burden and regulation on the <br /> landlord. These are potential fines that could be assessed by simply not receiving a notice and not <br /> scheduling an appointment. Landlords eventually unload their properties. There is a supply and <br /> demand and when you run off good landlords, you're left with a higher percentage of bad <br /> landlords. That has already happened. A number of investors have decided not to buy rental <br /> properties in the City limits and I think you're already seeing the effect of that. This program only <br /> will worsen that,in my opinion. It's been compared to the need to have restaurant inspections,but <br /> I don't think that is a valid comparison because when I go to a restaurant, I can't see the kitchen. <br /> I can't go back there. The inspectors can go back there, though. As a tenant, they get to see every <br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION I INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574 235 9221 f 574.235.9173 I I L)574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov <br /> 18 <br />