Posts Tagged DNS

DNS Has Started To Implement The New Residential Rental Certificate Program

Jan 8

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in DNS, Legislation, Mandatory Rental Inspections / Landlord Licensing | No Comments

As many of you know the City of Milwaukee’s new Residential Rental Certificate Program ordinance went into effect January 1, 2010. 

It is my understanding that the letter notices, along with a date for the inspection of your rental unit/s, the application, were all mailed out to affected landlords during the week of Dec. 28th — so those of you in the two designated areas should have received your mailing by now – Merry Christmas.

In anticipation of the many questions about the Residential Rental Inspection (RRI) Program the Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS) has added a new FAQ page to its website regarding the program.  The web page also contains a link to a map of the two affected areas, a link to the RRI Application form and a link to the Pre-Inspection Checklist.

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MILWAUKEE’S RESIDENTIAL RENTAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM VOTE PUSHED BACK 1 CYCLE

Nov 3

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in AASEW, City of Milwaukee, DNS, Legislation, Mandatory Rental Inspections / Landlord Licensing | No Comments

The Common Council did not vote on the passing of the city’s proposed Residential Rental Certificate Program earlier today as was planned.  Instead the Comon Council voted 9-5 to hold the proposed ordinance for 1 cycle (1 month) for further review. 

The proposed ordinance, which would require all rental property owners in the UWM-area and Lindsay Heights neighborhood on the north side of Milwaukee to pay an $85 fee per unit fee and submit to an internal inspection of in order to be able to rent out their property, passed out of the ZND committee last week by a vote of 3-2.  The proposed ordinance was to be voted on by the Common Council earlier today. 

In response to the setback of having the proposed ordinance pass out of committee the AASEW, who represents approximately 680 landlords in Milwaukee and the surrounding areas, retained legal counsel to review the ordinance for procedural and drafting errors.  Errors were found and were communicated to the City Attorney.  The AASEW  wrote to the President of the Commom Council and the various council members and pointed out its many concerns with the ordinance as written.

Prior to a vote being taken as to whether or not the ordinance should be passed, a motion was made by Alderman Donovan to hold the ordinance  for one cycle (1 month) to further review any problems and concerns.  This motion passed by a vote of 9-5.  It is assumed that the ordinance will be revised and then referred back to the ZND committee for an additional public hearing.

I will keep you advised as to what happens next.

For additional information on the proposed Residential Rental Certificate Program please refer to my earlier post.

Read Tom Daykin, of the Journal Sentinel, blog post about this change of events here.

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City of Milwaukee’s “Residential Rental Certificate Program” Is Unveiled

Oct 21

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in City of Milwaukee, DNS, Legislation, Mandatory Rental Inspections / Landlord Licensing | 10 Comments

Well I have finally been able to get my hands on a preliminary copy of the city of Milwaukee’s proposed mandatory rental inspection ordinance.  The ordinance is sponsored by Alderman Kovac, Wade, Davis and Hines.  The ordinance refers to the proposed program as a “Residential Rental Certificate” program.  The program is really just a variation on “landlord licensing” and mandatorty rental inspection programs.  I would encourage you to read the enitre proposed ordinance, but I have also set forth the key points below:

-     This will be a 5 year pilot program.

-     The targeted area includes the UWM area on the city’s east side and the Lindsay Heights neighborhood on the city’s north side.  These areas were selected because the city believes the areas need to be monitored to prevent deterioration.  Allegedly these two areas include older housing stock, have a high density of rental properties, have a higher percentage of complaints, and have high tenant turnover.  The city feels that frequent inspections of the rental properties in these two areas are needed to maintain safe, decent, and sanitary living conditions. Read the rest of this entry »

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UPDATE ON MILWAUKEE’S PROPOSED MANDATORY RENTAL UNIT INSPECTION PROGRAM

Sep 23

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in City of Milwaukee, DNS, Legislation, Mandatory Rental Inspections / Landlord Licensing | 1 Comment

A friend of mine was at a meeting this morning with the City of Milwaukee’s Budget Director and learned some more information on the City’s proposed mandatory rental unit inspection program.

First, the proposed ordinance is in the final stages of drafting and will be released in the near future.

Second, it will be a 5 year pilot program in the UWM area only.

Third, there will be a fee of $40 per landlord and a $35 per unit inspection fee.

Fourth, the pilot program must be approved by the city’s common council each and every year in order for it to continue.

Fifth, if a rental unit passes its 1st inspection then the unit will receive a 4 year compliance certificate and will not need to be reinspected until the 4 years expires.

NOTE:  MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS NO LONGER ACCURATE – TO FIND OUT WHAT THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE STATES GO TO MY NEW POST ON THE SUBJECT.

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Why Milwaukee’s Mandatory Rental Inspection Program (a.k.a. “Landlord Licensing”) Is Not Needed and Is A Bad Idea.

Sep 14

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in City of Milwaukee, DNS, Mandatory Rental Inspections / Landlord Licensing | 3 Comments

Here are a few of the reasons why the City of Milwaukee’s soon-to-be proposed ordinance requiring mandatory rental inspections  (a.k.a. “Landlord Licensing”) should not be passed.

For more background information on this proposed new ordinance please read my earlier post entitled ” Milwaukee To Propose Landlord Licensing and Mandatory Interior Inspections of Rental Property.”  

There Are Better Ways To Spend Milwaukee’s Limited Money – The city of Milwaukee has no money and as such the city is threatening to close libraries, not hire additional police officers, not pay overtime to police officers, cut back on the number of firemen assigned to each ladder company.  Under this new ordinance the city will spend money which would be better spent on more police officers and other safety issues rather than hiring more building inspectors. Read the rest of this entry »

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Milwaukee to Propose Landlord Licensing and Mandatory Interior Inspections of Rental Property

Sep 10

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in AASEW, DNS, Mandatory Rental Inspections / Landlord Licensing | 20 Comments

The city of Milwaukee is planning on introducing a new ordinance that will require rental property owners in certain parts of the city to license their rental properties and submit to mandatory interior inspections by the Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS).

Many of the AASEW board members have been having regular monthly meetings with the new DNS Commissioner Art Dahlberg.  During a recent meeting Mr. Dahlberg informed us that in the near future he will be pushing for some form of residential rental inspection program (a.k.a “Landlord Licensing”) for portions of the city.  During a meeting with Alderman Bob Donovan it was confirmed that this program was in the works and that the city’s forthcoming budget already has money earmarked for the program. Read the rest of this entry »

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