HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council gave approval to keep the Rental Registration and Inspection program during Tuesday’s agenda session. But it won’t come without some major changes to the program.

The program, which has always been unpopular with landlords, was the topic of much discussion by the Housing Commission recently. The commission originally stated last month that it didn’t want the program to continue. However, the commission did a sudden turn-about last week and recommended that the program continue. Obviously there were many comments on both sides of the program.

Landlord Fran Weber was against keeping the program in place, saying that the program is not fair to them because tenants can retaliate against them if they are evicted:

 

Kelly-Anne Lanham, who is on the housing commission and a realtor, was much in favor of keeping the program in place and said more needs to be done to help both landlords and tenants keep property in compliance:

 

Lanham gave a few examples of what should be done to help the rental situation in Hutchinson:

 

Councilwoman Jade Piros de Carvalho originally voted to do away with the program, then rescinded the motion. After more discussion, the council voted to keep the program in place while waiving fees to landlords. Council members also insisted that the Housing Commission come up with a better plan than is currently in place. Piros de Carvalho also had this to say to a group of landlords:

 

In the end, the council decided by a vote of 5-0 to keep the program in place.