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Landlords complain about Richmond rental inspections; rent board says it does not administer inspection program
Summary
Three speakers at the rent board public forum criticized the Richmond Rental Inspection Program for frequent revisits, fines and perceived harassment; Rent Board general counsel said the inspection program is administered by the city (community development/city council), not the rent board.
Three members of the public used the rent board's public forum to criticize Richmond’s Rental Inspection Program, alleging excessive revisit inspections, charges, and lack of clear administrative recourse.
"They come into your house... they try to rack up unnecessary charges," Monique Taylor said, saying inspectors visited her units within 18 months despite an expectation of three-year cycles and that her household pays "almost $3,800 a year" in program fees. David Taylor, who said he is a 70-year-old cancer patient, described a reinspection fine of $135 and said inspectors had written up issues he attributed to tenants rather than to owner maintenance.
Board members and legal counsel repeatedly cautioned that rules for public comment limit substantive board responses during the forum. General Counsel Charles Ochinuga told the speakers: "The Richmond Rental Inspection Program is not administered by this board, nor has it been passed by this board. This board has no authority over the program." He advised that the ordinance and administration of the inspection program are housed in the city’s Community Development Department and that commenters' concerns would be better directed to city council and the relevant city departments.
During the exchange the board offered process guidance: Board Member Willis noted that the board cannot provide a substantive response during public comment and suggested filling out a speaker card to return with additional remarks as an individual. To allow a brief offline discussion, the board voted to take a five-minute recess; the motion to recess was seconded by Board Member Willis and adopted by unanimous vote of members present (Hite, Willis, Vice Chair Cantor, Chair Tipton), with Board Member Espinosa absent.
The rent board later reiterated that it does not conduct inspections or administer the inspection ordinance and recommended that residents and property owners seeking remedy or clarification contact the Community Development Department or city council, which oversee the inspection program.
