County staff report sharp drop in troubled multifamily properties; new regulation and fixed scoring proposed

At a Planning, Housing and Parks Committee work session, Department of Housing and Community Affairs officials on July 15 presented preliminary fiscal‑year 2025 troubled‑properties data and described proposed changes to Executive Regulation 1‑25 meant to speed scoring and inspections and reduce repeat violations.

The report showed preliminary FY25 counts of about 30 troubled properties and 58 at‑risk properties, down from prior years, and described operational changes including a new fixed scoring method, a 30‑day target to provide inspection scores, and escalated fees for reinspections after the first two free visits.

The information matters because troubled‑property designations trigger annual inspections and enforcement steps intended to protect tenants’ health and safety. Committee members said the decline suggests improved compliance and that recent rent‑stabilization requirements are influencing owner behavior.

Scott Bruton, director of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and Nathan Bovell, division chief for community development, told the committee the FY25 numbers are preliminary and the department must finalize the full troubled‑properties report, which the county is required to submit by Sept. 15. "The full report for FY25 will be coming out later this fall," Bruton said. Nathan Bovell described the proposed regulation changes, including the move from a year‑end, average‑based quadrant system to fixed scores that can be issued within 30 days of an inspection.

Tamela…