Council, real estate group to clash on rental inspections Jon Zemke / Special to The Detroit News, March 27,

Rental Inspection HOWELL -- A proposed ordinance mandating rental properties be inspected every two years was expected to come under heavy debate when the City Council met at 7 Monday night. The Real Estate Investors Association of Livingston County planned to argue to the City Council that the measure is unnecessary. "Our position is the system works just fine," said Cathy Blight, the association's president. The city began considering the idea after it condemned a rental house on West Washington in October due to numerous city code violations, including nonworking furnace and plumbing.

Current Law Right now, the city inspects rental homes only when a complaint is made, said Rick Swanson, the city's building director. Neighbors of the house divided into apartments described it as a "hell hole" and "falling apart." Members of the City Council reacted angrily to the reports, prompting city staffers to start work on the language for an ordinance.

Responses The landlord, Tom Wolff, said the renters hadn't kept the house up and that it isn't in extremely bad shape. Wolff said in October he planned to fix it and sell it. No repairs have been made to the house since its condemnation, Swanson said. He added that the house is vacant and up for sale. That's the way the system should work, Blight said. She said the house was in "terrible, terrible" condition and that the city responded appropriately. "They handled it very well, within 24 hours of receiving the complaint," Blight said. She argued that members of her association are strongly against the measure because it will waste city resources and taxpayer money for an inspection that isn't needed.

The Economics Start at Q*. What happens over time if building ages? Quantity Costs, Revenues Costs Revenues Q* Why do we need inspections?