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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Neighborhood REDI: A data driven approach

8. 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
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Community Clean-Up
Streamlining of Services

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. What we’ve seen

14. 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.

15. 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.

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

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

24. 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