Committee hears bill to allow Topeka to conduct interior inspections of privately owned rental units receiving HUD funds; supporters cite tenant safety, critics

A Senate committee heard testimony on House Bill 2,099, as amended, which would permit the City of Topeka to conduct periodic interior inspections of privately owned residential rental properties in certain circumstances when the property receives direct public financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Under the House'amended version described in committee, the bill applies only to Topeka and requires the city to adopt an implementing ordinance. The bill replaces the current consent-only rule for interior inspections in Kansas law with a program that allows periodic inspections after reasonable notice to tenants; if a tenant objects, the city must obtain an administrative search warrant before entering. The House committee also defined "direct…