Landlords voice displeasure with proposed building codes
The subject of building codes triggered many public comments at a city council meeting last week.
Several Red Oak landlords spoke out during the meeting about their disapproval of the council’s adoption of the international building codes.
The codes would require rental properties to be inspected every three years to renew a rental permit, while other properties would only need to be inspected if there is noticeable need for it from the outside.
Due to the high volume of public comment, city administrator Brad Wright felt it was wise to keep the codes off the meeting’s agenda for vote.
“We talked about possibly having the ordinances on the agenda tonight for consideration,” Wright said. “[We felt] for several reasons, between [the] last meeting and tonight, that it was wise to hold that off at least another meeting. I think more people are becoming aware of what’s being considered and want some input.”
Instead of voting on the codes, Red Oak Mayor Bill Billings opened the meeting up for public comment. Some landlords did not agree with the inconvenience to their tenants of having an inspection every three years and homeowners not being treated the same way.
“I know we do need some codes in town, some type, but zeroing out landlords, going in and telling my tenants you’re going to inconvenience them once every three years, or however it may be, I just don’t feel like that section should be zeroed out versus a house beside mine, or a house anywhere, that is probably in worse shape than my rentals,” Dwayne Adams, a local landlord, said. “I do know we need to clean things up. I see it every day. But I think we need to look real strongly at how we go about it and make sure that everybody is treated the same.”
Sherry Bourlon, of B&B Rentals in Red Oak, believes the enacting of these codes could raise rental prices for tenants.
“I also agree that some type of building codes do need to be enacted,” Bourlon said. “I disagree with landlords being singled out. The comment that I’ve been told is that ‘well, we’re concerned about the quality of living for the tenants.’ The thing of it is, the majority of the landlords in this town are good landlords. So, if we’re concerned about the tenants, then heaping more fees on the landlords, all we’re going to do is cause us to raise our rents. We have no choice. We’ve had to do it every time taxes go up, every time building supplies go up. It’s getting to where there’s less and less affordable housing in this town. So, if you’re concerned about the tenants, be concerned about their pocketbooks, because we will pass the fees on. We have no choice.”
Another landlord, Perry White, criticized the council for not providing him with “nicer quality people to put in my houses to put a lot more money in my houses.” He said on a monthly basis, he estimates around 80 percent of applications he receives for housing are people on drugs or government subsidies. White said he believes if the council worked to bring in “good quality people” to rent to, they will not need inspections as often.
“I will be your worst nightmare,” White said. “I’ll be the biggest complainer you have because I’ve done a lot of work on my houses … to make my houses nice, and you haven’t provided me a community that will go together and make my houses nice in a nice community.”
Bill Bourlon, of B&B Rentals, said he’d like to see an appeal process. He believes there is not a “balance” in the codes. Bourlon even mentioned forming a committee made up of landlords, tenants or others.
“The only thing I ask of you to do is give us some type of appeal process,” Bourlon said. “If you think that someone complains, whether it’s a tenant, neighbor, whatever, complains on a building we feel is looking good. Before you assess us a fine, and before you assess us a penalty for coming in to look at it, or we think your inspector is being too nit-picky or whatever … but everything should have a balance to it.”
After public comments, Billings told the audience that nothing has been set in stone and this is just a “baking idea.”
There will be another public meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Red Oak Fire Station to discuss the adoption of building codes. Representatives from SWIPCO, including the building inspector, will be in attendance to answer any questions.