Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />ECC <br />UGENE ITY OUNCIL <br />AIS <br />GENDA TEM UMMARY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Work Session: Rental Housing Code Program Update <br /> <br /> <br />Meeting Date: June 15, 2011 Agenda Item Number: B <br />Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Rachelle Nicholas <br />www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5495 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br />This work session provides an opportunity for the Mayor and council to review and give feedback on the <br />Rental Housing Program which is scheduled to sunset at the end of 2011. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />The Rental Housing Code was adopted in 2005, to set minimum habitability criteria that safeguards the <br />health, property and public well-being of owners, occupants and users of rental housing. <br />It is intended to <br />supplement rather than conflict with the habitability standards of the State of Oregon Residential Landlord <br />When it was adopted, the code addressed four housing standards: structural integrity; <br />and Tenant Act. <br />plumbing; heating; and weatherproofing. In 2007, the council expanded the code to include security, <br />smoke detectors and requested further consideration by a department advisory committee (DAC) on the <br />topic of mold. The City formed a DAC to discuss mold in residential rental properties. The DAC <br />unanimously recommended adding standards addressing the source of the mold and those changes were <br />incorporated into the code. <br /> <br />Staff found short-term, the council directed DAC to be an excellent resource to address issues and <br />concerns with the Rental Housing Code and created a new, on-going DAC in 2009. The membership is <br />comprised of both tenant and owner advocates and meets periodically throughout the year. The DAC <br />membership is attached to this memo. <br /> <br /> <br />PROGRAM OVERVIEW <br /> <br />The City of Eugene’s adopted Rental Housing Code helps ensure healthy and safe rental housing by <br />providing a direct and local service for owners and renters in the community. This service to community <br />members is not provided by any other agencies. The other commonly referenced option is through the <br />circuit court. The court process takes time and is potentially costly in both time and money for both <br />parties. The Rental Housing staff responds to about 1,000 calls a year from both tenants and owners of <br />rental properties. The goal of the program is to help tenants and owners communicate so they can <br />resolve their issues without further City involvement or legal action. <br /> <br />The program also works to help renters understand their rights and responsibilities. The fall season sees <br />Eugene grow by more than 18,000 people, many university students. Staff from the Rental Housing <br />Code program participates in the university’s outreach effort to help student tenants learn about the <br />program and their rights and responsibilities. <br />\\cesrv500\CC Support\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110615\S110615B and attA.doc <br />