News Sep 11, 2008 at 4:00 am

City Rewrites Rental Rules

Comments

1
Thanks to the Mercury and Sarah Mirk for covering the Housing and Community Development Commission's public hearing (9/3/08) about the recommendations of the Quality Rental Housing Workgroup (QRHW). Ms. Mirk's description of the remarkable collaboration among tenant advocates, organizations representing large landlords and 'mom & pops,' and the City Bureau of Housing and Community Development Staff was on target. However, I want to correct the record on a few specifics:
1) The article suggests that the recommendations will have tenants pay for health and safety problems they may cause or contribute to. They do not. To read the recommendations, please go to www.portlandonline.com/BHCD and follow the links to the Quality Rental Housing Workgroup recommendations.

2) The article suggests that the County sponsored the QRHW. It did not. The City of Portland sponsored the process. (HCDC held its hearing in the County boardroom.)


3) The article says that the City Council will vote on the QRHW recommendations on Sept. 22nd. It will not. The QRHW will meet on Sept. 22nd to consider the input it has received on its draft recommendations, and take a final vote. The final QRHW recommendations are expected to come to Council sometime in October. (Date t.b.d.)

Beth Kaye
Public Affairs Manager
Portland Bureau of Housing & Community Development
2
" The new code would "temporarily" charge landlords $8-10 per unit to help the plan's start-up costs and also asks for a one-time $350,000 check from the city. After it gets up and running, the workgroup estimates they will need $500,000 annually to maintain the inspectors and education programs. Some funding, of course, would come from the pockets of landlords who have to pay the bigger fines."

So I as a taxpayer have to pay for this even though I don't rent from a slumlord? This is nothing more than a money racket built out of FUD. Not only that, it will raise the rent of everyone in low rent/low profit margin rental properties. I love the "education program" part too.

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