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Board asks staff to research requiring rental-code disclosure at sale after bedroom safety dispute
Summary
After a recent case in which a room listed by the city assessor was judged unsafe as a bedroom by inspectors, the board asked staff to explore options — including requiring disclosure at property sale — and to increase outreach to assessors, realtors and buyers.
The Ames Property Maintenance Appeals Board voted to ask staff to research options to reduce buyer confusion after a recent case in which a room shown on the assessor—s public record was not approved as a bedroom by code inspectors.
Sarah (staff member) told the board about a property that had been listed and sold with what the assessor—s record showed as an additional bedroom; inspectors found the space did not meet minimum code safety standards for a bedroom, including a minimum ceiling height of 7 feet. The new owner bought the house expecting to rent it as a four-bedroom unit and later learned the space would not be classified as a bedroom under city code.
Board members discussed existing tools: the city offers a pre-sale inspection service and issues letters of compliance (one- to four-year lengths depending on violations). Staff said they try to educate realtors and sellers and that a presale inspection can generate a remediation list before sale. Staff also noted the assessor—s public property site (Beacon) is used widely and may not be simple to change for a single jurisdiction.
Members suggested several potential responses: improved outreach to the assessor—s office and realtors, clearer language on the city website, a nonbinding buyer information packet, or an ordinance requiring disclosure of rental-code considerations at the time of sale. The board moved and approved a motion asking staff to research the legal feasibility of requiring that buyers be provided notice (or documentation) of rental-code requirements at sale and to return with options.
Staff said other practices already exist to reduce surprises: presale inspections, a $56 special inspection fee when owners remove themselves from the rental process after an inspection, and a process that issues letters of compliance after corrections are made. No change to the code was adopted at the meeting; the vote directed staff to investigate options and report back.
