The Sacramento City Council has unanimously approved major changes to its rental-inspection ordinance and fee schedule – a move that could save qualifying landlords thousands of dollars annually.
The change will result in a 43 percent reduction in the inspection fee and save rental owners in the city $1.1 million annually.
The 7-0 vote Tuesday ends a five-year battle over reforming the program, which will now allow self-certification of rental properties when a previous city inspection found no violations, or violations were corrected on time, and all fees are current.
The change will result in a 43 percent reduction in the inspection fee and save rental owners in the city $1.1 million annually.
“At a time when local governments around the state are imposing new rental-inspection ordinances or expanding the fees on existing programs, this is a great accomplishment and reason to celebrate,” said Cory Koehler, senior deputy director at the Rental Housing Association of Sacramento, a chapter of the California Apartment Association.
The new changes include a shift to a self-certification program for those properties that qualify. What’s more, the fee will be chopped from $28 to $16 per unit annually. For an apartment community with 100 units, the annual savings comes to $1,200.
Despite the good news, many issues remain, including the development of a new inspection checklist that owners and managers must use to conduct self-inspections and a revised resident-rights-and-responsibilities document that must be provided at the inception of every tenancy.
RHA will keep members posted on how to comply with the new program.