From the Harford Property Owners Association:
The Harford County Council is hearing a bill to Mandate Rental Inspections for all Rental Property in Harford County on May 6, 2014 at 6:30PM at the Harford County Council Chambers at 212 S Bond Street Bel Air, MD.
Bill No. 14-16 will give the County Government the authority to inspect any rental property within Harford County. Here’s the link to the bill: http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/weblink8/ElectronicFile.aspx?docid=5266846&dbid=0
The goal of this legislation is to give the County government more control over rental housing in Harford County.
Specifically, the Council plans to use the government to force property owners to maintain “standards” set by the County government.
Similar legislation was introduced in 2012– but YOU stopped that bill when you and lots of other angry voters showed up in massive numbers and caused pain for the Council.
Now, Councilman Dion Guthrie is back to try again. This time, he has “softened” the language in the bill, but according to the Aegis:
Here’s the link to that story: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/harford/belair/ph-ag-council-update-0404-20140403,0,3715681,print.story
“Guthrie said after Tuesday’s council meeting that the bill would be a step in the right direction, although it is still milder than what he ultimately hopes to achieve. He said he hopes to eventually target non-rental properties as well.”
Non-rental property?
That means my home and yours. No thank you, Billy Boniface and Dion Guthrie– we will take care of our own homes.
Please call and email each of the Harford County Councilmembers and tell them to vote against forced inspections in Harford County.
Dion Guthrie 410-638-3521 dfguthrie@harfordcountymd.gov
Joe Woods 410-638-3520 jmwoods@harfordcountymd.gov
Billy Boniface 410-638-3525 wkboniface@harfordcountymd.gov
James McMahan 410-638-3523 jvmcmahan@harfordcountymd.gov
Chad Shrodes 410-638-3524 cshrodes@harfordcountymd.gov
MaryAnn Lisanti 410-638-3526 districtf@harfordcountycouncil.com
Richard Slutzky 410-638-3522 rcslutzky@harfordcountymd.gov
Then call County Executive Craig and ask him to veto this bill if passed by the Council.
David Craig 410.638.3350 CountyExecutive@harfordcountymd.gov
And if you can make it, come to the hearing with us on May 6, 2014 at 6:30PM at the County Council Chambers, and FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO ANYBODY IN HARFORD COUNTY THAT OWNS A HOME OR RENTAL PROPERTY.
The Harford Property Owners Association is growing and is seeking new board members. If you are interested in serving to protect property rights, write to Patrick McGrady at Patrick@harfordproperty.org or call at 410.272.0550.
Thanks,
Patrick McGrady
Wait The Harford Property Owners Association (a.k.a. McGrady and his parents) are opposed to legislation regarding slumlords? Doesn’t the McGrady family manage several rundown properties? Who wants to play connect the dots with me?
My thoughts exactly. Notice how Mr. McGrady tries to cast a light on a presumed “power grab” by THE GOVERNMENT, as opposed to affirming an earnest effort by the Council (an a Republican one at that) to ensure the safety, well-being, and dollar value of families required to rent from persons and corporations whose profit margins increase as the quality of rental proprieties decreases.
I thought the council was working on updating the rental code however I guess they will wait until after the elections to bring a bill to the floor. The county needs a rental registration and updated safety/occupancy standards before someone dies. These slumlords are the worst kind, they buy low and charge high prices relative to their cost.
What changes to the occupancy code would you suggest?
And why do we need rental registration? Look the property up in SDAT and it will tell you the owner’s name and mailing address.
SDAT doesn’t give you a phone number to contact the landlord of record nor does it verify that the home is insured. A rental registration doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated and it would probably require updated information each time the home is rented to a new tenant. LLC’s as it stands do not have to reveal to the county a person to contact but only provide a mailing address for correspondence.
When dealing with a problem property, you’re much better off sending certified mail. The courts really dislike phone conversations because it becomes he-said/she-said, when retaining copies and mailing receipts is much more accepted.
LLCs receive mail just like any individual owner would.
Landlords aren’t required to carry insurance by law (IIRC), they can self-insure if they so choose. You don’t need the insurance company’s information, you sue the owner and the insurance company will step in if they have a policy (assuming you haven’t reached a settlement earlier in the process).
I am not suggesting anything, just commenting on the bill being proposed. karhn,, they say there aren’t any stupid questions but you prove that notion wrong.
Right now there isn’t a way to contact the owner or the manager if the property is being managed by another entity. proof of insurability is very important if you get hurt in someone’s home or if you lack hazard insurance on the unit.
A registration data base would allow police to contact known slumlords and those that allow drug trafficking in their rental units. Non-rental usually means employer provided housing or farm housing for employees, it doesn’t mean your private home of abode. Stop dramatizing everything as if you are concerned about the freedom and welfare of homeowners. What is at stake is your ability to make more money and not updating your units to certain occupancy standards. The county already has a rental code but is pretty much with no teeth as it lacks an enforcement process It merely allows a tenant to move out from a unfit found to be unsafe and unsanitary. Common violations are lack of heat, water or access. A rental code will actually bring our county in some compliance with Havre the Grace which has a registration data base for rentals in their jurisdiction.
The police are more than able to find an LLC owner’s information, as corporations must be registered with the state and have a POC for service of process.
You keep harping about needing updates to the occupancy code, but you don’t have any suggestions for what those changes should be.
All you do is harp! Any suggestions on anything?
Yes, leave the current landlord/tenant laws alone.
They provide proper recourse for both the landlord and the tenant in case of faults of either party.
Perhaps McGrady would likto explain why all those properties neede smoke detectors!
Because it’s a law!!!!
Mostly blue, I don’t think you even read the bill. If landlords are renting poor properties,
there are ways to deal with the problem other than having government inspections. If you have
read the bill and the article from Mr. Gutherie you would know this is the first step to all
homes in the county being inspected. A little much big brother in our lives as it is!!!
Let’s just wait for someone to die or get hurt!! You then will complain that the county didn’t do anything to prevent it.
A self-serving letter written under the guise of excessive government intrusion.
Let me guess. McGrady will have Patterson send out a Libertypac request for money. These two getting so predictable. Gin up on any topic to raise money and pay themselves consulting fees.
I used to live in a community with such a code. It was designed to require inspection of rental properties and then was expanded to include pre-sale inspection of all homes. It was true intrusion. It just added a few hundred dollars in inspection fees to the sale of a house. They wanted me to replace most of my sidewalk and repaint the garage.
I appealed and had an actual city engineer re-inspect and he said the sidewalk was fine, except for one flag. Then they made you do stupid things like install one way valves on all plumbing so water can’t siphon back into the lines.
The city finally came to their senses and realized that there was no benefit to anyone in this and cancelled the program.
More government intrusion into our lives. This bill will cost the landlord more time and money and rents will go up, just as in Balto. Co. If a tenant doesn’t like a rental they shouldn’t move in. If the rental deteriorates after move in they can address the problem through the county gov., sue or move out. As far as the gov. inspecting our private homes without a search warrant, nothing in this state would surprise me.
Where/what is the Harford Property Owners Association? I can not find a Website for them and the only information is regarding comments “they” make. It would appear they may be doing something as they are looking for “new” Board members, but I can’t seem to find anything. What do they need a “Board” for?
You just described every single McGrady organization in one statement….
If the rental unit was built prior to 1972, you should already be registered with MDE and have a lead paint inspection each time a renter moves.
If you have units rented under section 8 thru Harford County Housing, a yearly inspection is done by that department.
How many more inspections do we need?
The law needs to have teeth. The real benefit of a rental registration is that if you have a problem property that continually rents to drug dealers, the county needs to be able to pull the ability for that landlord to rent. I know we like to think you have a RIGHT to do whatever you want with your property, but we all know that you don’t. You can’t turn your house into a garbage dump or a business, and you can’t operate a business without a license. There should be due process to take away your ability to rent your property, but if you aren’t keeping your property up, or have a lien against your property for not paying your HOA bill, then the county should be able to prevent you from continuing to be an absentee slumlord.
What a terrifying post
“buy low and charge high prices” my ass. There are many homeowners who rent out their property simply to keep it out of foreclosure. People who for whatever reason cannot make their payment and can’t sell for anywhere near what they owe. Some even rent at less than the monthly payment. These are not “for profit” situations and any additional financial burden would be cruel.
AMEN there brother.
The proposed amendment to the Livability code is not effective or needed for at least 2 reasons. First, the owner/manager of all properties are available through the county and/or phone book. Second, any costs incurred with this bill will raise taxes on property owners, and then by necessity, fees will rise on tenantst, thus higher rents. Third, the amendment will continue the big brother-ness ( for lack of a better phrase) of government into individuals rights. The list, does not fix any problem that is not already addressed by the current bill.
If you read the bill, it’s short and direct, and think it is needed, call and tell the council that. If you do not think it is needed, call and tell them that. Please note that the number of vacant properties throughout the county is increasing and more laws/taxes will not help that situation. Perhaps money would be better spent on fixing damaged roads, traffic lights, playgrounds, and even old and damaged sewer pipes.
One more rant, specifically to mcshady and james… have either of you even seen any of our family properties? Many of our tenants have lived with us for over 25 years. I have watched their children grow up and they have watched my family change and grow, too. If we were as bad as you imply, I don’t think that they (our tenants) would stay. As far as Patrick and Ted’s Liberty PAC, these gentlemen are not afraid to stand up for their beliefs, or to try to solve problems, address concerns of their community and probably more courageous than both of you, as they sign their full names to their letters.
I am proud of my family, my children are strong, independent, creative, and problem solvers. I am proud of my husband who leads by his example to follow and to lead. I thank God for them every day.
The county does not have a record of owners or rental managers, as this would be the purpose of such registry!! 2nd, how does this registry raise taxes on homeowners or landlords?? Hello! Third, having rental property is not an individual right!!! This bill is not about increasing or decreasing the vacant inventory, it has more to do with accountability in the marketplace, safety, safeguarding the rights of tenants, meeting equally rental housing standards for all be it public assisted housing or private rental housing. The Lead certification from the State does not mitigate any housing code deficiencies, it addresses one very serious health concern only. The State does not have an enforcing mechanism for compliance. A rental registry would address these deficiencies and would provide accountability from owners and real estate managers in case of repeated drug and criminal activity, force slumlords to slum a little less and provide prospective tenants assurances that the home they are renting is safe and sanitary.
Nice to see Mama Mcgrady defending her boy’s idiotic opinions… The family should spend more time focused on repairing those rundown properties they manage and own in Aberdeen…
So Dion wants to improve the conditions in rental units throughout Harford County? If that is the real goal we need to determine the best way to accomplish this task. Dion’s plan is to use the force of government to bring rental units up to par with regulations created by career politicians. That will certainly lead to a decrease in available rental properties which will have a negative affect on the community
Dion should, instead, work to create a surplus of rental units. That will drive costs down and quality up.
What previous experience gives Dion the impression that Government can fix a perceived problem that it played a hand in creating?
Any land lord who has ever had a tenant who stops paying rent knows how ridiculous the current laws are. It is a long, expensive, slow process to get the squatter out of your property and you are stuck with unpaid bills(can’t turn the water off that is illegal) and unpaid rent along with the prospects of having to make repairs to a property that may be damaged by the person defaulting on the rent.
We need less government not a nanny state. Dion is one ugly Nanny.
McGrady of course will be sounding the alarm bells. I would too if I were a slum landlord. What an A@@.
Wait unit my Bel air neighbors find out I’m turning my 5 bedroom house into 3 section 8 apartments, and there is not a damn thing they can do about, not too far from the old roller rink. Best thing is guaranteed income and any damages are covered.
Are you saying that Sec 8 can be inspected but private landlords don’t have to follow the same inspection guidelines? Why can’t they? Why are you opposed to health and safety inspections? Sec 8 does not pay for tenant damages btw
roscoe,
Yes, Section 8 includes inspections by the government. You can even be required to repair tenant-caused damages immediately or they’ll stop paying you.
Rental properties like the ones that Mcgrady’s family owns need to be inspected. Just the other day, Mcgrady was in my building and he kept trying to touch my cock! This is where government needs to step in and hold landlords accountable.
More government. Oh ~ Joy. 🙁
Some very interesting thoughts and projections on this topic.
The County needs a livability code with teeth. It seems to me that this change has no teeth at all. Rather it borders on some very questionable and leads to more questions than answers. Allowing the director of administration to identify a geographic area for inspection to promote increased compliance for rental properties. An entire area? What will be the cost of that effort? If the County does not have sufficient resources to ensure compliance with the current code, how much more will it take to enforce this change? What are the criteria that will lead the Director of Administration to designate a geographic area? Who would be behind that effort? There is certainly an opportunity for corrupting the process? Will that lead to a designation of a blighted area? A case for eminent domain?
A requirement to register properties, so that there is a phone number for contacting someone. Seems like the current code, unchanged by this bill, requires that property owners be contacted by mail for failing to adhere to the code. Why is the phone number required? Why is any registration required if all properties in Harford County are listed in the SDAT data base, all business must be registered to do business in the SDAT data base too. SDAT provides an address for owners and resident agents. If violators are notified by mail why is a phone number required. How much will it cost the County to administer the data base? Who will pay for that effort?
Prevent landlords from renting to drug offenders, users, dealers. Who will establish the litmus test for landlords to administer to potential renters? Who will indemnify the landlord against litigation for denying an applicant of drug offenses? Will the county require drug offenders to register, and then require them to live in packing boxes under an underpass? Will the County advise all undesirables to leave Harford County? How will they prevent them from coming into Harford County?
Force landlords to provide the basic requirements listed in the code, such as heat, water and access. Seems like there is an existing process to resolve instances where the landlord fails to provide those items and follow the current code. The County Housing Agency has a complaint form on its web site; it provides counseling services to renters. If there is such a problem now, what is the magnitude? How many complaints are unresolved and why? Last time I checked it appeared that most of the complaints were resolved rather quickly.
Harford County needs a code with teeth. After reading the existing code, it seems like the director has the authority to inspect rental properties, ensure that they are properly maintained, and prescribes appropriate penalties for failure to comply, including condemnation of the property. Maybe the county needs to find people with teeth to enforce the existing code, rather than developing a flawed process.
THNX
John P. Mallamo
The current code complaint process allows only the tenant to file a complaint. An advocate can’t, a neighbor can’t or an HOA can’t. It puts the tenant in direct confrontation with their landlord. For example, in a case of bug infestation there isn’t a process by which to inspect the unit or cite the landlord. There have been cases where heat hasn’t worked in winter. A low income tenant paying their own rent is in a vulnerable position to complain and seek redress. In many cases health dept, zoning do not have direct oversight and the livability code is rendered useless. In cases where the tenant files then resolution is almost always found since it gives the tenant an out and are able to recover security deposit. If there is a hearing on this bill, hopefully the citizen can look on earn about the need for an updated code. Again, SDAT doesn’t keep a record of rental manager and landlord may not be easily contacted.
Why so opposed to access and remedies that protect tenants? A landlord runs a business and is only asked to do it safely. In places that do have a registry process, the tenant is protected and responsible landlords don’t mind it because it protects them as well.
Did you know that if a tenant trashes a property, the landlord can take the renter to court and win a judgement against the renter. But there is only a 10% chance the landlord will ever see the money to repair the property. Also if a drug dealer moves in anyone can make a complaint to police, and if arrested can be banned from the neighborhood. There is already a law in place to seize property where drugs are involved and the landlord is complicit, it has been done in Harford county already. Most landlords do a credit and criminal background check and also a past landlord reference. If the county takes away a rental property because of poor management, then I guess they can take away any business property for any reason. Watch what bill that you would like passed, it will eventually come to your own back yard. I just think it is only fair to mention some information for the landlord’s side.
Wage garnishment is a wonderful thing, I’ve never had a problem recovering damages from former tenants. But I don’t rent to Section 8.
Actually, if a tenant does not get a response, or proper treatment of the problem, the law allows the tenant to put the rent money in escrow. So when the landlord takes the tenant to rent court, the tenant can show attempts to contact, show pictures of the hazardous problem, and doesn’t have to pay until it’s fixed. I think once the rent stops coming a landlord will start answering mighty quick. Yes, it takes a call or two on the tenant’s part to find out their rights – but they already have them. No need for new codes and inspections.
Mr Mallamo,
“Prevent landlords from renting to drug offenders, users, dealers. Who will establish the litmus test for landlords to administer to potential renters? Who will indemnify the landlord against litigation for denying an applicant of drug offenses? Will the county require drug offenders to register, and then require them to live in packing boxes under an underpass? Will the County advise all undesirables to leave Harford County? How will they prevent them from coming into Harford County?”
The other thing to consider is how quickly the NAACP, etc, will jump down everyone’s throats for perceived discrimination should such a law go into affect. The first landlord that rejects a tenant for being a possible drug dealer will be in court for years.
Livability inspections are already part of the process. In fact, any tenant that petitions the court for rent escrow already has to have an inspection as evidence of deficient housing conditions that the landlord won’t fix. Sometimes, there is a need for more government intervention!! A private landlord is selling a product and it must be safe, sanitary and in compliance with the law. The update would actually make the process more efficient and would address some of the loopholes. The administration should have ability to make non-compliant and slum landlords follow the law
Inspector answers the complaint, visits the tenant with the landlord present or not and issues a report with abatement instructions and report of code violations. If the landlord can’t/won’t or ignores the complaint then the tenant can ask the court for rent escrow or petition the court to void the lease and allow the tenant to get their security deposit in a timely fashion. You would be glad of the code if you actually had an elderly person, or a disabled person in your family having been taken advantage in a deficient housing situation.
Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss Mostly Blue
Sir, Ma’am
In your discussion you have seem to have accurately described how the present/existing code works to protect both the tenant and the landlord. It would appear from your discussion that it is working quite well.
You have not discussed how the proposed legislation would improve the situation for either landlord or tenant, or the benefit the public in any way. I am still grappling with the designation of an entire geographic area for inspection, to promote increased compliance. It sounds very much like the village pacification process from another era. I am also mystified why rental properties must be registered. If the owner can be identified, shouldn’t that be sufficient?
It occurs to me that there is more to this issue, than trying to help a beleaguered tenant. Perhaps you could provide more insight.
By the way, how many instances can you sight where landlords have been found to have ignored their contractual obligations, or the requirements in the present livability code?
THNX
John P. Mallamo
The code does work when both parties are willing to play nice. SDAT doesn’t keep a record of rental manager and Owner may not be present , accessible or able to manage said property to bring about corrections that would be a reason to have contact information for the person responsible for the property being rented. Typically, the tenant gets to move out and the slumlord will rent the same unit to the next unsuspecting tenant which doesn’t really bring the unit into compliance. The county is powerless to compel the owner/landlord to fix it.
Being in the business does give me some direct knowledge but I would not want to pursue it more than I have. blighted designation is important when we are talking about rundown areas mostly controlled on the exterior by HOA or jCondo regimes. Their total lack of care.., such as trash, broken street lights, broken down cars and equipment outside, pot holes, no timely snow removal and knee high grass are a nuisance, fester crime activity and aren’t safe for a tenant or a homeowner. Bighted designation would prohibit payment to subsidize those units too. The code update would actually make a lot of sense if you look at the benefits that it would bring instead of siding with slumlords that are more concerned about making money out of people with no other means.
The bill, 14-16 is posted on the county website and I re-read it. I agree w/ Mr. Mallamo that the bill allows for the county administrator to target a specific geographic area. I missed that the first time I read it, but with his insight, he is correct. The bill will allow the administrator to target an area that he/she deems not fitting the county code, and allow the county to inspect the whole area, ie. Whiteford, Havre de Grace, Darlington, as well as Aberdeen, Joppa or Fallston, Bel Air, Edgewood, etc, and w/ 15 days notice, determine if the whole area complies w/ the code. I wonder if the county wants that headache? The costs to the county, as well as to the owners, to the tenants that will end up paying in the end, the losses do not seem to be worth the new bill. The current bill does meet the needs, problems and issues of the owners and tenants. The housing authority does address any problems that area brought to them.The current bill is doing its job, we don’t need more rules or lawsuits that this new bill will generate against the county.
We don’t need another bill for tenant’s there is a livability code for tenants, what we need in Harford County is a livability code for SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. The government needs to inspect these homes and deem those condemned if necessary. I see many homes in my area (District F) which should have been condemned a long time go. Stop wasting tax payers dollars, there already is a code for tenants let’s go after the single family homeowners to maintain their properties, it brings the rest of us down.
I’ll never vote for you, even for dogcatcher, with that kind of attitude.