HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council discussed at great length the revamped rental inspection program during Tuesday’s meeting.
The housing commission recently approved recommending a licensing rental unit rather than registration. The city has been looking for a way to better make sure landlords keep up their property while protecting tenants from eviction if they file a complaint about living conditions.
However, landlords in attendance were not interested in any type of program.
“If you think that we’re going to sign up for this again and say, ‘sure come on in and you can ridicule us on the inside of our property like you did on the outside for silly little things,’ you’re wrong,” Jill Gumble, president of the Central Kansas Landlords Association, said. “There’s not going to be any compliance from the landlords whatsoever, good or bad, because it does not benefit us in any way.”
City Planner Ryan Hvitlok says he understands landlords’ concerns, especially when it comes to costs and policing the program. But he said the program is bringing change to the housing stock.
“I think this program has made a difference, we are seeing things that are getting done,” Hvitlok said. “We are seeing an improvement. It’s a slow improvement. This is not something we got to overnight and it’s not something we’ll be able to fix overnight.”
Most of the council was in favor of keeping some type of program. John Daveline was not one of them. He expressed his frustration with the state legislature who he says is responsible for the current situation since they took home rule away from cities.
“We don’t have any other occupations other than contractors and tradespeople that are required to have a license in the city of Hutchinson,” Daveline said. “I’m concerned that this begins to set a precedent of looking at other avenues to place business licensees on businesses. And I’m troubled with that.” Daveline asked that the entire program be allowed to sunset at the end of the year.
Steve Dechant, who is a landlord, has been in support of the program and expressed his reasons for the new proposal. If put in place, he hopes it is not needed for long. Dechant expressed his support of the efforts of the Central Kansas Landlords Association for trying to improve the rental situation.
“When we see stuff that continues to happen to this day, and even though it is such a small percentage of our people who are in the business, then as a city we have got to do something,” Dechant said. “We just can’t allow that to continue to be going on. And I think to abandon (the program) would allow that to go on and on, whereas to move forward and continue . . . I’m hoping that in five years we’re not feeling the need to continue this.”
In the end, the council voted 4-1 to move forward with the program. The matter will now go back to the housing commission, then return to the council for final approval.
