Landlord Licensing
I do think it is appropriate that landlords be required to obtain a business license. I can't think of any other business that doesn't require a license. Logan is the only city out of Utah's top 20 cities (Logan is ranked number 12) that doesn't require landlord licensing.
However, I think the Municipal Council made a good choice when they created a committee to study the issue over the next several months before making a final decision on what form the ordinance should take. The committee is composed of two council persons (Olsen and Monson) and includes landlords, property managers, and citizens from the community, the Utah Apartment Association, USU student government and Logan City staff. Those meetings have either recently begun or are scheduled to begin soon.
At this point, I am keeping an open mind and waiting for the committee to examine the issues and provide a report/recommendation as to how the licensing might be handled to better meet needs of both Landlords and the City. It might make sense to have a different set of requirements (and pricing of the business license) for landlords who have only one unit, compared to those who have multiple units. As I mentioned, I do favor requiring a business license of landlords, with some sort of contact information. But what exactly any regulations might include, I honestly haven't made up my mind because I don’t feel like I have enough information.
I know one problem in the past has been with absentee landlords (which certainly doesn’t include all landlords); when the city has needed to contact a landlord to resolve an issue, or police need to notify a landlord about a crime at their property, the only contact info they may have is a post office box in California. Hence, my comment that there should be some method of easily contacting property owners as part of the licensing process.
I did attend a presentation by the Utah Apartment Association (UAA) regarding their "Good Landlord" program. It provides incentives and benefits (from the City) for good landlords, but provides the City tools to deal with problem landlords who don't maintain properties and create extra costs for the city. It has been quite effective in some locations, and is certainly a program that bears investigating in my opinion. The UAA is represented on the City committee, so that option will be explored in the committee setting.
I asked if I could sit in on that committee, simply to educate myself. They were a little concerned that if candidates attended, it could become political. They are in the process of determining if the meetings will be open (but probably would not accept comments from non-committee members). If you have strong feelings on the subject, I would encourage you to contact current council members Herm Olsen and Jay Monson. I have found both of them very willing to listen to constituents.
If I am elected, I will continue to study the issue as information and recommendations become available. Feel free to contact me in the future with additional questions.
However, I think the Municipal Council made a good choice when they created a committee to study the issue over the next several months before making a final decision on what form the ordinance should take. The committee is composed of two council persons (Olsen and Monson) and includes landlords, property managers, and citizens from the community, the Utah Apartment Association, USU student government and Logan City staff. Those meetings have either recently begun or are scheduled to begin soon.
At this point, I am keeping an open mind and waiting for the committee to examine the issues and provide a report/recommendation as to how the licensing might be handled to better meet needs of both Landlords and the City. It might make sense to have a different set of requirements (and pricing of the business license) for landlords who have only one unit, compared to those who have multiple units. As I mentioned, I do favor requiring a business license of landlords, with some sort of contact information. But what exactly any regulations might include, I honestly haven't made up my mind because I don’t feel like I have enough information.
I know one problem in the past has been with absentee landlords (which certainly doesn’t include all landlords); when the city has needed to contact a landlord to resolve an issue, or police need to notify a landlord about a crime at their property, the only contact info they may have is a post office box in California. Hence, my comment that there should be some method of easily contacting property owners as part of the licensing process.
I did attend a presentation by the Utah Apartment Association (UAA) regarding their "Good Landlord" program. It provides incentives and benefits (from the City) for good landlords, but provides the City tools to deal with problem landlords who don't maintain properties and create extra costs for the city. It has been quite effective in some locations, and is certainly a program that bears investigating in my opinion. The UAA is represented on the City committee, so that option will be explored in the committee setting.
I asked if I could sit in on that committee, simply to educate myself. They were a little concerned that if candidates attended, it could become political. They are in the process of determining if the meetings will be open (but probably would not accept comments from non-committee members). If you have strong feelings on the subject, I would encourage you to contact current council members Herm Olsen and Jay Monson. I have found both of them very willing to listen to constituents.
If I am elected, I will continue to study the issue as information and recommendations become available. Feel free to contact me in the future with additional questions.