City of Rock Hill Rental Ordinance Pilot Project Expansion April 4, 2019

Neighborhood Analytics Better use internal data we collect to inform our decision making/work programs Test assumptions Looked at: Crime – violent, property, drug, financial, other Residential Fires Fire calls – medical/fire Foreclosures Code Enforcement Windshield Survey Flood-prone areas

Neighborhood REDI Overview Focus Per Neighborhood PILOT: Catawba Terrace PROPOSED EXPANSION: Sunset Park During each project period a 5 step process will be followed: Community Engagement Program Development Resource Identification Implementation Evaluation

Total Violations by FY16 Neighborhood Catawba Terrace 185 Sunset Park 168 Boyd Hill 164 Hagins Fewell 155 South Central 152 Crawford Road 108 East Town 100 TOTAL 1032

Code Enforcement Correlations There are statistical relationships with: Nuisance violations Accessory violations Housing/Boarded violations There are not statistical relationships with: Major exterior violations Minor exterior violations

REDI Program Goals Outreach & education specific to community Understand and Prioritize Concerns Integrate qualitative community data & quantitative data Program Development Shaped in response to community specific data and resident input, recognizing the dynamic nature of each neighborhood Identifying and Targeting Resources Streamlining of Services

Neighborhood REDI: A data driven approach

Streamlining of Services Targeting Resources Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Neighborhood Recreational Activities Foreclosure Prevention CDBG & Other Grant Opportunities Smoke Alarms Crime View Fire Education Little Free Libraries New Development Bookmobile Rolling in Rock Hill Crime Watch Neighborhood Tool Shed ???? Community Clean-Up Streamlining of Services

REDI Neighborhood Infrastructure Improvements Community Organizing School District Safe Kids Alliance for Catawba Terrace Early Learning Partnership Rolling in Rock Hill HDC Rec in a Box Rental Regulations Tool Shed

Progress by the Numbers 88% property crime decrease from 2017 to 2018 67% violent crime decrease from 2017 to 2018 91% IPMC code violations voluntarily abated 43% decrease in major IPMC violations

Rental Registration and Inspection Update January 2018 June 2018 # Rental Units 302 303 Registrations Received 291 300 Rental Licenses Upon Inspection 40 21 – Passed Initial 19 – Failed Passed 1st 69 37 – Passed Initial 32 – Failed Passed 1st New/Remodel License 4 6

What we’ve seen

City of Rock Hill Rental Ordinance- Why Now? The analytics demonstrated through the R.E.D.I initiative shows this is the time for solutions to resolve bigger picture issues that entwine our communities when our best efforts are not sufficient. Providing quality communities requires an all in effort. The first step is to ensure that our rentals are being maintained in a safe and habitable condition and not allowed to pose a threat or nuisance to the community.

Pilot Expansion Benefits Improve quality of life and safety for renters who need affordable housing. Stop substandard rentals. Encourage rehab projects as good investment instead of a risk due to Comparable Market Analysis. Demonstrating an intolerance for criminal and nuisance behaviors by holding owners accountable for their properties. Discourage out of state investors who would prefer to be “out of pocket” by requiring a Responsible Agent.

City of Rock Hill – Rental Ordinance Process 4 BASIC REQUIREMENTS Registration License Responsible Agent Inspections

REGISTRATION Cayenta and GIS combined are not sufficient programs for providing current contact information for owners. Registering current owner Statement of personal knowledge that the property is fit for occupancy Acknowledgement of required inspections Required to lawfully establish a rental unit for occupancy.

RESIDENTIAL RENTAL LICENSE A license that would be issued to the owner or the designated responsible party establishing the ability to lawfully rent / occupy a residential rental unit.

RESPONSIBLE AGENT Accountability Having accountability for the property is a must. Having an ordinance that requires a landlord to designate a local responsible agent would be a positive step and would eliminate wasted hours of research. The Agent would have to work or reside within 30 miles of the City center. Accountability Current contact information Local agent for absentee landlords Property Management Companies

INSPECTIONS HNS Inspections enforces the International Property Maintenance Code currently and is proactive for exterior and nuisance behaviors. Propose manageable inspections that existing staff would be able to perform Initial Inspection – with Registration/license Re-inspection – Every 3 Years thereafter

The Basics Life Safety Issues – Inspector’s Checklist Exterior Roofs & Drainage Openable Windows Doors, Deadbolts Interior Structure Interior surfaces (walls) Stairs and walking surfaces Handrails and handguards Pest Elimination Infestation Light /Ventilation/Occupancy Ventilation of habitable spaces Plumbing Facilities and Fixtures Dwelling units Water heating facilities Sanitary drainage systems Mechanical and Electrical Heat Supply Mechanical appliances Electrical Facilities Fire Safety Means of Egress Smoke Alarms

Sunset Park 4 residential fires (January –June 2018) 83% of code violations (FY2018) are in rental homes What is the percentage of rental units overall January to June 2018: 33 days to abatement 4 residential fires 7 violent crimes 6 alcohol crimes 21 property crimes 4 drug crimes

Proposed Expansion Timeline April 2019 Public Education Consideration of 1st reading May 2019 Consideration of 2nd reading June 2019 Property owner outreach and education July 2019 Begin implementation