Rental Inspection Program

The Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc. (AASEW) continues its attempt to defeat the recently passed ordinance creating a Residential Rental Certificate Program in two areas of the city.  On December 7, 2009, the AASEW issued a Press Release urging the mayor to veto the legislation in order to avoid expensive litigation. 

Additonally, President of the AASEW Tristan Pettit wrote a letter to Mayor Tom Barrett pointing out many of the legal problems with the ordinance.  A similar letter was sent to the members of the Common Council  prior to their vote last week – which went ignored.  The letter specifically delineates 6 of the many structural and legal problems with the ordinance and encourages the mayor to veto the legislation in order to spare the city the time and expense of defending the poorly drafted legislation in court.

The Mayor has until Thursday, December 10, 2009 to sign the legislation or else it would go back to the Common Council for reconsideration.  If the Mayor vetoes the ordinance then the Common Council would have to garner 10 votes (from the 15 members) in order to override the veto.

The Utha State University Debate Team on rental Licensing in college communities.  Pretty interesting

Video Podcast

Here is a handout/pamphlet that was circulating on the east side of Milwaukee last week that focuses on some of the issues that tenants should be concerned about regarding Milwaukee’s proposed ordinance for mandatory rental unit inspections.

There Are Better Ways To Spend Milwaukee’s Limited Money

The city of Milwaukee has no money and as such the city is threatening to close libraries, not hire additional police officers, not pay overtime to police officers, cut back on the number of firemen assigned to each ladder company.  Under this new ordinance the city will spend money which would be better spent on more police officers and other safety issues rather than hiring more building inspectors.

Tenant’s Right to Privacy

Under this new ordinance rental properties would be subject to search by building inspectors.  Tenants will have building inspectors walking through their apartments and looking at everything.  This is unnecessary and intrusive.  It should be the tenant’s decision to call the inspector if the landlord has failed to make a repair.  Tenants’ right to privacy in their own home is a basic American right. (more…)