How To Deal With Slumlords

Question

Where I'm at the actions of just a scant few slumlords have resulted in:

-- Angry neighborhood groups uniting together to demand landlord registration with the right of inspections...
--  City council members proposing a special 'landlord tax'...
--  Stricter codes that fine landlords instead of tenants if a tenant's grass is over 8 inches or if they park in the yard and so on...
--  Code enforcement being handed over to the police department...
--  Stricter enforcement of existing codes -- as in five boards piled in a yard can constitute 'construction debris' and result in a fine...
--  A majority view that all landlords are evil and greedy...

And I could go on!

But the bad fact is that just a few slumlords are making it harder for the rest of us to do business.

Anyone got any ideas on how to get through to these short-sighted knuckleheads?

Lynn Z · Answer

South in SC the mayor commissioned a task force lead by a minister  (heavy emphasis on community councils) to fine landlords for leaving tenants garbage curbies out, any police action due to noisy tenants, require a local agent to stand in for the landlord (including allowing entry for codes inspectors, fixing problems noted etc)

They want all landlords to register.   That will only lead to annual inspections to give the little codes regulators something to do.

They claim they just want to be able to chase down absentee landlords but we all know what's coming.

John Baker · Answer

Let me guess, Raleigh NC??
                                                                                                                        
                                                            Slumlords are NOT the problem. There is a well known long time slumlord from the area. I own properties next to him and even have a few he use to own back in the 80s. He doesn't do background checks, his rentals are not, and have never been or will be in good repair. Most of the time not even close to code. Is he really that bad for the area? Is he responsible for the social problems of these neighborhoods? Did he deserve a class action lawsuit from the city that drug on for 10 years? 
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                    If anything, he has improved the lives of these social misfits that wouldn't be accepted anywhere else. You know, the ones that live on the downtown benches next to the red cross? I don't accept them in my rentals and I bet you don't either. Scumbags need slumlords. Think of how much more homeless would live on the benches in Moore's square?. If anything, this guy deserves an award for housing these deadbeats! Someone has to do it, and I can only imagine the problems he deals with. 
                                                                                    
                                                                                    These clueless council members that voted for this new ordinance live in North Raleigh and just simply don't understand this part of downtown raleigh. The deadbeats are not going to disappear, and they sure as hell won't be renting the homes in the newly gentrified neighborhoods they came from. 
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                    I wish all the landlords would get together and refuse to pay these fees. What are they going to do? Take our property? Refuse to allow us to collect rents? This isn't Russia. Is this russia? No, no this is't Russia. Sorry love that movie.

I like this forum too. Glad I found it.