Background 

In fall of 2020, Staff brought forward the concept of a Rental Housing Inspection Program (RHIP) in light of many complaints of unsafe or unsanitary housing conditions residents were experiencing. Currently, the city is without recourse for even minor problems such as unlocked building doors or non-functioning appliances. Following direction from the council, staff has been working with several other cities to understand their RHIPs and how to best serve residents. 

Research 

Staff met with several cities (Brooklyn Park, Burnsville and New Brighton) to understand their RHIPs and how they have been working and what work they are doing around tenant protections.

Conversations focused around the benefits to the community, renters and even to landlords. Staff also met with two of non-profits who do advocacy for tenants and tenant protections (HOMELine & the Alliance) to understand what the potential impact to renters might be of a RHIP. 

Attached is a general program discussion from a national level on Rental Housing Inspections.

Discussion

Tonight staff would like council discussion on the following aspects of a potential RHIP: 

• Adoption of the International Property Maintenance Code 
• RHIP structure and format
• RHIP fee schedule 
• Tenant protections 
• Timeline