The California Apartment Association has received more time to help fix a rental-inspection program that would cost West Covina landlords exorbitant and unnecessary fees.
The City Council had been scheduled to review the item Tuesday, Jan. 21, but postponed the hearing so that CAA can propose changes that would protect responsible property owners.
As written, the mandatory program would charge a $71 registration fee, $41 base fee, and an $18-per-unit fee annually to have rental properties inspected by the city’s code enforcement agency.
“The proposed ordinance would have increased costs by thousands of dollars annually for CAA members,” said Beverly Kenworthy, executive director of CAA’s Los Angeles Division, which is working with CAA’s Inland Empire Division (CAA-AAGIE) to amend the ordinance. “We will continue to work with the City Council and personnel to develop provisions that eliminate penalties for responsible property owners.”
Earlier this month, CAA-LA and CAA-AAGIE executive directors quickly teamed up to meet with city personnel and City Council members to voice concerns regarding the annual costs to property owners.
“Most landlords maintain their properties and utilize rental criteria to ensure high standards of housing are provided to enhance the quality of life within the city,” said Tim Johnson, executive director of CAA-AAGIE. “Cities and local jurisdictions need to develop policies that target their efforts on properties – owner occupied and non-occupied – that negatively impact the city instead of treating all rental property owners as absentee landlords.”