Independence, Missouri proposes mandatory rental inspections

General Landlording & Rental Properties
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Independence, Missouri proposes mandatory rental inspections

Matt R.
Blue Springs, MO · Member since 2015 · 481 posts · 313 votes

Hello, all!

The city of Independence, Missouri (a large suburb on the east side of Kansas City) is proposing mandatory inspections for rental properties.  The landlord would be required to hire an inspector, at the landlord's expense, and submit the inspection report to the city before the property can be rented.  The inspection would be good for two years, and then need to be re-done. For four-plex and smaller properties, all units would have to be inspected.  For larger properties, only 10% of the units would have to be inspected.

The cover sheet for the proposed law is here http://agendas.indepmo.org/Coversheet.aspx?itemid=... and the actual text of the proposed law is here http://agendas.indepmo.org/AttachmentViewer.ashx?A... . It is known as the "Rental Ready Program".

The bill had its first reading at the City Council meeting on 15 August 2016.  I think it will have a second reading at the next City Council meeting on 6 September 2016, and then the council will vote on it.  The public can attend City Council meetings in person, and they are also broadcast online at http://www.ci.independence.mo.us/City7/VideoEvents , but I don't think there is a way for people to ask questions remotely.

I found out about this from MAREI, a local real estate investment group that I am a member of. They got the information from another group, the Landlords Association of Eastern Jackson County. I care about it because the SFR I currently own is in Independence.

Matt Roberds

edit: added name of proposal

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Aaron Mazzrillo
Investor · Riverside, CA · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
10y

My buddy is suing the city of Highland, California right now for this same lame bs. I just got my $100 "inspection" bill from the city of San Bernardino. $100 for the lazy *** code enforcement officer to park in front of the house, roll down the window and write a few notes about what he/she thinks needs to be taken care of. My list;

Trash cans visible from street. RV parked in driveway. Facia needs painting. 

I thought about writing "F.U. (but spelled out) Code Enforcement" on my facia board. 

Landlords also have to have a business license which is $60 and renewed annually. That's $160 for the right to operate a rental house in the city of San Bernardino.

Extortionist pigs.

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  • Kim Tucker
    Flipper/Rehabber · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 712 votes
    9y

    The law passed and stands and will start I believe in June. there is a movement in MO to unite all landlords - right now the new group MO REIA or MO Landlords (not formally named yet) has a group on Facebook and on Meetup, just to collect all interested parties together.

    The hope is to change MO legislation for the better.

    Right now the person who is the move and shaker on this initiative is Steve Vogel and he is filling committee positions to get the group started and functioning.

    0Reply
  • Dennis S.
    Rental Property Investor · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2017 · 30 posts · 13 votes
    8y

    We are under contract with a property in Independence. Our buyer's agent and some of the inspection people were not familiar with it, and when we have tried to contact the office with questions, and received no response. 

    Is this being enforced?

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  • Matt R.
    OP
    Blue Springs, MO · Member since 2015 · 481 posts · 313 votes
    8y

    @Dennis S.  Some Independence landlords are getting letters from the city telling them that they need to do an inspection on their properties before they renew their landlord business license, and some aren't.  When this was first passed, the city hinted that they would go after "out of town" landlords first, but there isn't anything in the law that requires the city to do that- they can go after whoever they want.

    I, personally, got my license in May 2017, right before the inspection requirement kicked in.  I will have to renew my license in a couple of months.  I haven't gotten any letters from the city yet, myself.

    The way the paperwork is supposed to go is that after you hire the inspector to do the inspection, he or she files the inspection results online with the city.  When the landlord applies for or renews their landlord business license, they are supposed to list all of their rental properties in Independence on the application or renewal.  The city is supposed to check that inspection reports have been filed for all of those addresses before they grant the business license.

    Also note that not every home inspector can do a Rental Ready inspection.  The city picked about 6 or 7 people/firms that are allowed to do them, so you have to hire one of them for the inspection.

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  • Scott TitusPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Lake Ozark, MO · Member since 2017 · 102 posts · 86 votes
    8y
    Just to add to Matt R. the city giving landlords until the end of March to get their inspections done. After they they’re saying they’re going to issue fines on those landlords who aren’t in compliance. The inspection process is simple, but how they decided who would be selected to inspect is something I haven’t figured out. Good luck.
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