Meeting provides information about rental units bylaw

By By Matthew Liebenberg

The discussion about Nipawin's new bylaw to license rental units continued at a public information meeting last week.

The meeting on Wednesday evening, June 15 at the Legion Hall was held to provide residents with detail about the bylaw that was passed by council and came into effect on May 24.

The intention of the bylaw is to improve the quality of rental housing in Nipawin through annual inspections and licensing of rental units. The bylaw, which is considered to be the first of its kind in Saskatchewan, has caused considerable public interest since councillors introduced the initial concept at an open house meeting last August.

Mayor Lawrence Rospad said councillors still felt the need to communicate with the public about the new bylaw.

"It's one thing to read it in the paper, it's another thing for me to say something on the radio," he told the Nipawin Journal after the meeting. "We want to give people a chance to get further explanation, maybe a better understanding where we're coming from. So really it's communication and we really stressed that with this council."

He felt they have achieved what they wanted to do with the information meeting.

"We communicated. Will everybody walk away happy? I don't think so but we also saw people that are encouraged by it. What's the bottom line here? Safe housing, quality housing, that's what it is."

Kevin Hess, who owns two rental properties, was one of the landlords in attendance. He felt the meeting was useful.

"Overall I think this should help the landlords improve their houses and get qualified tenants," he said. "I feel myself if you can't live in a property why should you be renting it and I believe that's what the town's inspiration is too."

While he is not too concerned over the bylaw requirements, he will hold off on his plans to buy more rental properties until he has more certainty over the impact of the bylaw on his business. He is also worried over the potential impact on low-income residents.

"I think overall rent will probably increase over the short spectrum. Maybe long term wise it will level out."

Most of the questions at the meeting came from landlords in relation to the annual inspections of their rental properties. They expressed concerns over the extent and detail of inspections and the cost to make repairs afterwards.

Councillors emphasized that inspections will only be performed on a visual basis.

"We're looking at having consistent, safe living conditions," Councillor Tim Verklan said. "There's been too little control for too long."

Council members also assured landlords the bylaw is not intended to be a punitive measure but a way to assist landlords to manage their properties and to have responsible tenants.

"We're not out to close you down," Councillor Terry Farden said. "We'll work with you."

Audience members also raised concern over the $180 inspection fee for each rental unit, but councillors noted the fee will not be charged if there are no deficiencies.

In case of deficiencies, landlords will be requested to do repairs within a reasonable period of time and there will be a follow-up inspection to confirm the correction of deficiencies.

Not all rental units will be inspected every year. The Town of Nipawin will select rental units for inspection based on a representative percentage of properties owned by a landlord.

Landlords are required to maintain a register of all tenants residing in rental units for which business licences were issued. Licence fees will be $25 per rental unit up to a maximum of $175 per year.

During the meeting councillors provided some background to their decision to adopt this bylaw. Councillor Farden said they have heard clearly from people in town that the problems with run down properties should be addressed.

While some of these properties are rental units, the town is also using the maintenance and occupancy and nuisance abatement bylaws to address problems with privately owned homes.