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DHCD promises more code enforcement staff and new tools as council raises fraud, squatters and rental licensing concerns
Summary
Council members pressed DHCD on vacancies, enforcement capacity and rental scams; DHCD said 22 code enforcement vacancies remain but that recruiting and retention steps, a new training director and a clear‑boarding pilot are in progress; a new 311 rental licensing service will be launched in June.
Council members used DHCD’s budget hearing on May 30 to press the department on code enforcement capacity, rental licensing and the city’s response to illegal occupancy and rental fraud.
DHCD told the committee it has reorganized budget service lines — moving 56 positions from service 7‑45 (code enforcement) into service 7‑51 (administrative, legal, notice production and demolition) to better align staffing with operations; officials said the realignment does not reduce front‑line enforcement staff. Deputy Commissioner Eric Booker reported 66 vacant‑building vacates performed in the current year and said the majority of vacant‑property work orders originate from inspectors. DHCD also said…
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