Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Rental Inspections And Landlords topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lansford rental-inspection program requires landlord presence; housing committee seeks landlord engagement amid voucher uncertainty
Summary
Borough officials described a relatively new rental-inspection program requiring inspections every 24 months or on change of tenancy, and housing committee members said national-level discussions about Housing Choice Voucher cuts and time limits have local implications.
Lansford borough officials said their rental-inspection program, about 16 months old, requires inspections every 24 months or when tenancy changes, and landlords must be present or provide an authorized representative who can respond within 30 minutes.
"It does require, by April, meaning every 24 month inspections... The landlord must be present, and if they cannot be present at those inspections, they have to have an authorized rep like, a property manager who is within 30 minutes," the borough manager said.
Officials said the inspections focus on basic safety — smoke detectors, handrails, clear means of egress and sidewalk hazards — not resale or cosmetic standards. Borough staff said they offer discounts for multiple-unit inspections and that the program has largely been self-sustaining so far.
Local housing committee members discussed efforts to engage landlords and property managers, especially smaller owners who may be willing to work with tenants exiting homelessness. Committee members said they have invited larger property managers such as BlackRock Property Management to meetings but noted some property managers had not attended.
"One of the key consultant groups out of the Washington DC area called Abt Associates... they have been canvassing all the different housing authorities, and we're up for a conversation with them next month," a housing committee member said, describing broader HUD-related research and the potential to surface strategies related to the Housing Choice Voucher program.
Committee members expressed concern that federal funding and program rules could change. "We are definitely seeing reduced funds on our level... we could be seeing something, not huge cuts, but noticeable cuts," the housing committee member said.
Participants also discussed landlord-related technicalities noted in program delivery, including that a landlord need not be a U.S. citizen to participate as a payee, and that some communities are exploring whether municipal seed funding could help other boroughs start inspection programs.
Borough staff said they are willing to share their experiences and materials with other municipalities interested in launching inspection programs or landlord outreach efforts.
