Cape officials considering regular inspections of rental property, landlords learn

After an evening of advice on property maintenance, tenant screening and how to practice nondiscrimination, a group of Cape Girardeau landlords heard words that some don't like -- regular inspections to make sure rental units comply with city codes.

Cape Girardeau currently does not inspect apartments or rental homes for code compliance unless the inspections office receives a signed complaint alleging specific problems, director of inspection services Tim Morgan said.

The city doesn't have a good count of the number of apartments, homes or mobile homes being offered for rent. And unless significant construction takes place to convert a home to rental property, no occupancy permit is required when a conversion takes place.

Research on how a citywide inspection program for rental property would work began internally about a year ago, Morgan said. So far, Morgan said, the discussions have not passed the stage of researching how similarly sized cities handle inspections and there have been no formal city meetings.

"Again, this is very preliminary at this time," Morgan said. "We have been trying to estimate the number of units in the city and the staff required."

Any program of inspection would have to be approved -- and fit into a city budget already beset by shortfalls -- by the Cape Girardeau City Council.

In an interview, Roy Jones, affordable housing coordinator for the Community Caring Council, said landlords should prepare for inspections.

"It is coming," he said. "It won't be tomorrow and it won't be next month, but when it is done, hopefully it will be done in a way not to twist arms. We want to identify it with cleaner, better landlords in Cape Girardeau."

Jones manages a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to inspect properties for compliance with national standards for subsidized rental properties. The inspections focus on safety, he said, and most landlords appreciate being told about problems.

"I think it is an advantage for the landlord to have someone looking for safety issues," Jones said.

But Verna Downen, an owner of rental property in Cape Girardeau, said she's skeptical. She doesn't see a need. "It is my responsibility to see that my property is what it needs to be," she said.

Other landlords said they would welcome inspections. Jerry Cooley, owner of Cooley Properties, said he makes major investments in his properties. His standard, he said, is that the rental unit must be one he would be willing to live in with his family.

But the city should also help landlords track down and recover damages from tenants who deliberately destroy apartments, Cooley said.

Other landlords wanted more information. Roy Felty, a partner in Coalter Felty Investments, said he would need to know about the schedule of inspections and the standards to be used.

"To me, it is going to have to have a lot of debate," he said.

Roughly 80 people crowded into a meeting room at the Osage Community Centre for the meeting. Sponsored by the Community Caring Council, about 500 letters were sent out inviting landlords to attend.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent addresses:

1625 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO