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[Billy]

Is anyone familiar with the regulations involving home rental in the city. I have noticed a large number of homes in my neighborhood with "for rent" signs and wondered if any home can be put up for rent. I don't want to come off as a jerk but I am concerned with what appears to be a serious change in my area. 

[Flanders]

I'm not sure of any restrictions from putting any home up for rent.

I do know that the City of Monroe was, and may still, offer a type of money matching program for investments made into rental real estate for section 8 housing.

I never understood why the City woud want to encourage this type of housing development?!?!

[MM1]

Here's some light reading from the City of Monroe Building Department.  It details the various  regulations and registrations go with renting a home as a residential rental property. 

http://www.ecode360.com/12409046?highlight=rental#12409046

[Billy]

Thanks MM1. So it appears as long as a certificate of compliance is issued any home can be leased? Hopefully our resident city councilman will weigh in on this.

[Professor H]

The property has to be registered as rental - and then it is placed in the inspection program to ensure it is up to code.   

There are people who may not follow this - and in certain economics people may think renting out a room may not make them qualify,  but over the past 20 years it has actually either reduced the number or brought up the standards of rental housing/apartments within the City. 

(It also reduced the number of fires)...  showing that good inspection programs can put people out of a job - a catch 22.

I'm actually surprised that more communities around here aren't using it 

[forever39]

We own rental property in the city - it is true that you are required to register it as such with the city & it has to be inspected every 3 years - the fee is $75/apt. - I don't know if the fee is the same for houses as for apartments.  Rental property is also taxed differently.  Safety is the main focus of the inspections, although the general appearance of the property is important as well.  The inspections are much better since the building department started doing them.

[Billy]

Thanks for the info guys. My concern has to do more with the number of homes being advertised as rentals than the specifics of being able to rent. So if I understand correctly every house on the block can be leased as long as they have been through the inspection process and have the required certificate of compliance? 

[forever39]

That's my understanding, Billy - as long as you own it & comply with the rental inspections, you can rent/lease it. 

[BigRedDog]

I'm not sure of any restrictions from putting any home up for rent.

I do know that the City of Monroe was, and may still, offer a type of money matching program for investments made into rental real estate for section 8 housing.

I never understood why the City woud want to encourage this type of housing development?!?!

Probably because it's a federal law and it shows the City is not discriminating against certain classes of citizens...

I'm sure it's not popular with "some" people (you obviously) but there are lots of laws that are necessary because there are still lots of people like you

[BigRedDog]

Is anyone familiar with the regulations involving home rental in the city. I have noticed a large number of homes in my neighborhood with "for rent" signs and wondered if any home can be put up for rent. I don't want to come off as a jerk but I am concerned with what appears to be a serious change in my area.

A few things to consider Billy...

first is local zoning...   are you zoned for single family or multi family homes.  Obviously a multiple family home would have at least one "rental" unit even if the owner was living in part of it.

The local rental ordinance has been very thoroughly explained already...

What hasn't been mentioned (and probably doesn't apply anyway) but does come into play sometimes...

Is there a "Homeowner's Association" where you live.  If there is one of their rules very well may prohibit the owner from renting out the home.  I doubt this is the case as there are not many areas in the City that actually have an active Association...

I'm personally not a big fan because they tend to do more harm than good in my opinion. 

Example:  Holiday lights can only be a certain color, a date to put them out and take them down by...  hours they are allowed to be lit, etc....

There have been several newsworthy cases in the past few years where some associations restrict the display of the American Flag...

I will admit that in some cases they do a lot of good...  but in too many cases it seems "someone in power" tends to abuse their power

[Billy]

Thanks BRD. I'm not a huge fan of home associations either, don't forget the white curtain only rule. I was hoping Brian might check in and clarify. I will call my own city councilman and ask. My neighbor seems to think that there aren't supposed to be anymore than what already exist in our area but I'm not sure what that's based on. I understand it's a vicious circle, lots of vacant homes due to foreclosure or people couldn't afford them so they moved on and are renting them. The city obviously doesn't want a vacancy problem yet I know both situations effect property value. I'm not anti- rental, in fact I've rented myself in the past but many of us in the neighborhood are concerned with what we see as a negative impact to our area as well as situations none of us have dealt with before.

[Professor H]

Billy that was one of the reasons the program was brought in years ago by a City Manger. 

It at least makes what some would call "slum lords" - held to a standard.

The number of rentals allowed deals with things like number of bedrooms, sq footage, exits - which keeps people from putting 12 in a home.   There are no restrictions I'm aware of as to how many can be in any area.

A majority of renters will keep up - but there are always the bad ones who don't care and keep moving on from place to place... 

I'm pretty sure Banks don't like to rent foreclosure property - makes it harder to sell, as once someone is in - it's a tedious legal process to evict them even if they quit paying.

[Flanders]

I'm sure it's not popular with "some" people (you obviously) but there are lots of laws that are necessary because there are still lots of people like you

The ignorace and lack of economic knowledge is mind-boggling in this statement regarding encouragement of downtown section 8 housing.  And I would like to see a cite regarding the law you are quoting.