RobPowell4Ward4Belton

You may have heard that Belton is considering a rental inspection program (RIP). https://tinyurl.com/4prdrj2m
The program, if approved, would require landlords to arrange safety inspections for their rental units on a yet-undecided schedule. It is likely the program will require inspection of units every time there is a tenant change, and more frequent inspections for units that have long-term tenants. The details are in flux after the city collected public comments via a public meeting and an online survey.
There will be at least 3 votes by your representatives on a RIP: the newly formed Code Enforcement Advisory Council, the Planning Commission, and the City Council. The second and third of these meetings will provide opportunity for public input, and there may be other public meetings once a revised RIP is released. I will post program updates as they become available on my page (https://www.facebook.com/robpowell4ward4belton).
I would like to know how residents feel about this type of program. (Full disclosure, I own one rental property. It will not be a problem for me to comply with a program designed to keep tenants safe.) At the public meeting covering the RIP the room seemed to be filled with landlords who thought the currently proposed program was too burdensome (both financially and resource-wise). I took away 3 concerns they (and a few tenants) had: 1) it is against the US Constitution to search a person’s home without approval by the tenant OR a search warrant; 2) rental properties seem to be singled out, i.e., a “fair” program would inspect ALL residential units for safety violations, not just rental properties; and 3) are these personal homes or businesses to be regulated for public health and safety?
Please respond to this post by answering the questions below and adding your comments:
1. Are you a landlord, a tenant, or both?
2. Do you think it is necessary for a licensed inspector to check rental units for safety issues, e.g., leaky plumbing, loose electrical connections, non-working smoke and CO detectors, etc.?
3. If you are a tenant, would you welcome a scheduled safety inspection of your home?
4. If you are a landlord, do you agree that safety inspections are necessary for all rental units in Belton?
5. Do you think insurance rates or business licenses should be tied to inspection results?
6. If you are a homeowner, would you welcome a scheduled safety inspection of your home?
7. Should the city pay for the program, or should the landlords and/or tenants?
8. Do you have ideas for targeting inspections so that they are more likely to correct severe issues?
9. Comments:

You can respond here or remain anonymous to others by emailing me at: [email protected].

Thank you!

www.belton.org

Ward 4 meeting at 6 pm on Monday, September 26, at Memorial Station. Bret White and I will be there, as well as the new city manager, Joe Warren.

We hope to see you there! RobPowell4Ward4Belton

DON'T FORGET THE WARD 4 TOWN HALL MEETING THIS SATURDAY AT 3:00 PM AT MEMORIAL STATION IN MEMORIAL PARK!

Town Hall Meeting for Ward 4
With
Mayor Larkey
Councilmember Bret White, and
Councilmember Rob Powell
Date: Saturday March 26, 2022
Time: 3:00-4:00
Place: Memorial Park, Memorial Station
Please invite your neighbors & lets discuss the 4 Ballot Questions on this April’s upcoming election
If you are unable to attend this Town Hall Meeting, please attend any of the other Ward Town Hall Meetings listed below
Ward 1 March 29, 3022 at High Blue Center in the Multipurpose room at 7:00 PM.
Ward 2 March 24, 2022, at Belton High School in the Commons at 7:00 PM.
Ward 3 March 20, 2022, at Belton High School in the Commons at 3:00 PM.
Look forward to seeing you there