No mandatory inspections for rental units
Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula’s commentary about the “anti-slumlord” ordinance Dec. 6 is short sighted. The “rental inspection ordinance” is a $10 million program requiring 90,000 rental homes and apartments to be searched, inspected regularly. It is not restricted to approximately 1,500 rental units identified by the city as needing moderate or substantial rehabilitation.
Tenants are characterized as uneducated and unable to handle their own affairs. That is insulting and not true. Almost everyone has rented at one time. People from all walks of life rent homes in the city. Almost all are employed.
Throughout this process, no one has asked the 250,000 renters in the city what they want. It is their homes that will be searched regularly without consideration for their privacy.
The proposed ordinance does not require the city to notify tenants of an inspection, only a 14-day notice to landlords. Renters will have little time to rearrange their schedules to be present when their homes are searched. A 30-day notice of Inspections should be given to renters by the city with a clear method for them to opt out.
Would you want a city inspector to search your home? If no, then contact the council to oppose the ordinance.
Bob Hooke, Fresno
This story was originally published December 17, 2016 at 2:08 PM with the headline "No mandatory inspections for rental units."