POLICE OFFER ADVICE TO LANDLORDS AT SEMINAR

Advice for landlords and property managers on how to handle crime or stop it before it starts will be offered this week through two informational meetings sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

This is the first time the police have presented such a program, said Lt. Dennis Dolan.

"We want to do anything we can to assist property owners," Dolan said. "Ultimately it enhances everyone's environment."

Running a credit check on all potential tenants has helped Robert Blasiney, who owns 22 buildings and rents out 93 units.

"Since I started doing that about a year and a half ago, I don't have anyone left who is in debt to me," said Blasiney, a scheduled speaker.

All of Blasiney's tenants fill out an application, giving name and Social Security number in order to verify outstanding debts, the person's actual name and other details.

"It lets me make sure that he isn't a problem person," he said. "If a person has a credit problem, there are probably other problems that led to the financial ones."

Details such as delinquent child support payments, a lost job, a new baby and others all come up with a more through background check, and they have to be considered thoughtfully. Evidence of financial hardship is not a reason by itself to reject a tenant, Blasiney said.

"You just have to wade through all the information that you get," he said.

Attorney John Oliver will talk about the advantages of a written contract. Many landlords forgo them in favor of a handshake, and it creates problems, Oliver said.

"I generally don't hear from the ones who have written leases," he said.

Without a written lease, evictions can drag on up to 60 days, while it can take 10 to 12 with a written contract, he said.

Police officer Chuck Stucker, who handles trash and other nuisances, will explain how different ordinances affect property owner's responsibility for upkeep.

Many landlords can't understand that if a tenant leaves garbage behind, cleanup responsibilities shift.

"If it doesn't get picked up, I have to write a summons on the owner," Stucker said.

Don Perry of the police department will also speak on identifying signs of narcotics use and production.

The program will be presented twice, first at 6:30 p.m. today at the Osage Community Center at 1625 N. Kingshighway, then at the same time Thursday at 629 Good Hope St., which is the police substation.

No admission is charged and the program should last approximately three and a half hours.