July 9, 2023 8:15p
(WGTD)---Landlords in Kenosha would be required to register with the city and open their units to inspection even without a formal complaint having been filed under a proposal up for initial consideration Monday night.
The city council's Public Safety and Welfare Committee will discuss a new systematic inspection program that already has six co-sponsors. It's aimed at improving the city's aging housing stock.
Under the ordinance, all rental properties in the city must be registered with the name of the landlord, and if it isn't one in the same, the name of a contact person along with their phone numbers. There's a one-time registration fee of $10.
The ordinance doesn't specifically say how often an apartment would be inspected, but it does list criteria that if met could shoot a unit to the top of the list. They include exterior violations, a property's age and whether there's a history of complaints.
Landlords who are cited would be given time to make repairs. Property owners in violation could be subject to $1,000 daily fines.
The ordinance includes protections for tenants, but also makes clear that property owners can evict tenants for good cause, such as failing to pay rent and causing damage.
The committee will meet Monday night at 5.
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