City is talking again about landlord licenses, rental registrations and a crime-free lease addendum; higher fees, too

CEDAR RAPIDS - The city's Code Enforcement Division wants to license landlords, require an annual registration of rental units and add an addendum to new leases that can help get tenants evicted for using rental units to commit crimes.

Matt Widner, who heads up the division, said Tuesday that a variety of committees and public forums have raised the issues of landlord licensing, registration and a crime-free lease addendum over the last couple years.

However, Widner said what most upsets landlords about any changes in the city's rental practices is a proposal to charge landlords more in fees.

“'How much is it going to cost?' That's what's controversial,” he said.

Widner used the example of a four-plex apartment, and said an owner of such a building now pays $80 for the building and $20 per unit every five years for rental inspection services. One of the options under proposed fee changes would charge the owner an annual fee of $50 for the building and $10 per unit. Over five years, the current $160 for the four-plex would cost the landlord $450 in fees.

Widner also wants to charge apartments and condominiums the same inspection rates. Condominiums now pay higher fees, but he says his employees waste a lot of time trying to figure out which apartments have been converted to rental condominiums. Owners change the rental classification so they pay lower residential property taxes rather than commercial property taxes.

Fees only pay 43 percent of the city Code Enforcement Division's costs. Widner says he's trying to cover 77 percent of his office's expenses with higher fees and better office efficiency.