Comments on: Call to Action http://landlordsoflinncounty.org/forum/call-to-action/ Landlords serving the Linn County Iowa area Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:28:28 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sheryl Jahnel http://landlordsoflinncounty.org/forum/call-to-action/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Sheryl Jahnel Sat, 03 Jul 2010 11:39:33 +0000 http://landlordsoflinncounty.org/?p=552#comment-46 It's easy to take our rights for granted and be complacent. The Cedar Rapids City Council has passed the 1rst reading for a new housing code, Chapter 29 and MANDATORY Crime Free Agreement and Lease Addendum. On the surface, who wouldn't want a Crime Free Agreement? However, the Ordinance and MANDATORY Crime Free Agreemnt as proposed has many unintended consequences that are not clearly understood by many. Some of these are: 1) Landlords must be responsible not only for their tenants behavior, but also "other persons affiliated with the resident" at the landlords property and ALSO "within 1000 feet of specified property" 2) "A single violation could be good cause for termination of the lease" 3) A Landlord who fails to comply and evict the tenant under a repeat violation risks the right to rent ALL properties owned or managed 4) Requirement for Landlord Licensing with many undetermined responsibilities, accountabilities, and tax payer's money by the city of Cedar Rapids Our Country the United State of America was based on the constitutional rights of Due Process of Law and Innocent until proven guilty. Under Chapter 29 and MANDATORY Crime Free Agreement, tenants are considered guilty until proven innocent, a single domestic dispute may leave an innocednt spouse and child without a home, a tenant may not report to the proper authority a crime in order to avoid eviction, and a innocent tenant and landlord may receive punishment for a behavior out of their control A vote AGAINST the proposed Chapter 29 and MANDATORY Crime Free Agreement is a vote to preserve our "Liberty and Justice for ALL" We may have one more time to speak up for our Rights, our Tenants Rights and the good of our community. This ordinace can not be ajusted later when the Purpose and Intent: "the city recongnizes that the Landlords are in the best position to take such steps to assure the citizens quiet enjoyment, safe, sanitary, free from noise, nuisances or annoyances and unreasonable fears about safety of persons and secuity of property." Landlords do not have a police badge. Watch for the date on the city web site of the next time to vote on Ordinance Chapter 29 CFA. We think it may be 7-13-10. The only way to stop this law is to show up when the council takes a vote. Each person that is there is a VOTE for liberty and justice for all. Wear RED to stop passage of this Ordinance and/or bring or wear an American Flag. It’s easy to take our rights for granted and be complacent. The Cedar Rapids City Council has passed the 1rst reading for a new housing code, Chapter 29 and MANDATORY Crime Free Agreement and Lease Addendum. On the surface, who wouldn’t want a Crime Free Agreement? However, the Ordinance and MANDATORY Crime Free Agreemnt as proposed has many unintended consequences that are not clearly understood by many. Some of these are:

1) Landlords must be responsible not only for their tenants behavior, but also “other persons affiliated with the resident” at the landlords property and ALSO “within 1000 feet of specified property”
2) “A single violation could be good cause for termination of the lease”
3) A Landlord who fails to comply and evict the tenant under a repeat violation risks the right to rent ALL properties owned or managed
4) Requirement for Landlord Licensing with many undetermined responsibilities, accountabilities, and tax payer’s money by the city of Cedar Rapids
Our Country the United State of America was based on the constitutional rights of Due Process of Law and Innocent until proven guilty. Under Chapter 29 and MANDATORY Crime Free Agreement, tenants are considered guilty until proven innocent, a single domestic dispute may leave an innocednt spouse and child without a home, a tenant may not report to the proper authority a crime in order to avoid eviction, and a innocent tenant and landlord may receive punishment for a behavior out of their control
A vote AGAINST the proposed Chapter 29 and MANDATORY Crime Free Agreement is a vote to preserve our “Liberty and Justice for ALL”
We may have one more time to speak up for our Rights, our Tenants Rights and the good of our community. This ordinace can not be ajusted later when the Purpose and Intent: “the city recongnizes that the Landlords are in the best position to take such steps to assure the citizens quiet enjoyment, safe, sanitary, free from noise, nuisances or annoyances and unreasonable fears about safety of persons and secuity of property.” Landlords do not have a police badge.
Watch for the date on the city web site of the next time to vote on Ordinance Chapter 29 CFA. We think it may be 7-13-10. The only way to stop this law is to show up when the council takes a vote. Each person that is there is a VOTE for liberty and justice for all. Wear RED to stop passage of this Ordinance and/or bring or wear an American Flag.

]]> By: Tim Conklin http://landlordsoflinncounty.org/forum/call-to-action/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Tim Conklin Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:41:58 +0000 http://landlordsoflinncounty.org/?p=552#comment-44 Oh, and what about the licensing of individuals, absolutely ridiculous. I already have a real estate license from the state, what more do I need? As people acquire rental property, it's a new business and learning how to be a landlord should be part of the do diligence process for them. I don't see how more red tape will make things better for the city or the landlord. Oh, and what about the licensing of individuals, absolutely ridiculous. I already have a real estate license from the state, what more do I need? As people acquire rental property, it’s a new business and learning how to be a landlord should be part of the do diligence process for them. I don’t see how more red tape will make things better for the city or the landlord.

]]> By: Tim Conklin http://landlordsoflinncounty.org/forum/call-to-action/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Tim Conklin Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:38:35 +0000 http://landlordsoflinncounty.org/?p=552#comment-43 I'm not worried about the fees. As many are aware it is illegal for a public entity to charge and unreasonable free for services so I'm confident no matter what the council votes, the fee portion will work out. The crime free agreement, is too much BIG government involved in the day to day operation of MY BUSINESS. Yes, I sign one, but honestly I've never had to take it to court for two main reasons. 1) 99% of tenant problems can be avoided by taking a pro-active approach instead of re-active by doing a good job approach screening tenants. 2) In those few cases where we have had to go to court the exiting 562A Clear and Present Danger gives me enough teeth to do what I need to do. So why do I sign them? It reminds tenants and gives them the confidence that the neighbors have the same standards. But that needs to be each landlords business decision. My management company has access to the best tenant screening tolls, so it's not an issue for me. But then again we spend hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars per month on applicant screening. I only have access to what I do because of our size, so I can see how a small landlord could have some trouble. Simply better tools would make a world of difference for many. Iowa courts is an ok first check, but it's not the best source, plus what do you do with out of state applicants? If Landlord's fail to screen or take appropriate action on criminal tenants, then let the free market punish them by the condition of the property, less rents, and a bad name. I’m not worried about the fees. As many are aware it is illegal for a public entity to charge and unreasonable free for services so I’m confident no matter what the council votes, the fee portion will work out. The crime free agreement, is too much BIG government involved in the day to day operation of MY BUSINESS. Yes, I sign one, but honestly I’ve never had to take it to court for two main reasons. 1) 99% of tenant problems can be avoided by taking a pro-active approach instead of re-active by doing a good job approach screening tenants. 2) In those few cases where we have had to go to court the exiting 562A Clear and Present Danger gives me enough teeth to do what I need to do. So why do I sign them? It reminds tenants and gives them the confidence that the neighbors have the same standards. But that needs to be each landlords business decision. My management company has access to the best tenant screening tolls, so it’s not an issue for me. But then again we spend hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars per month on applicant screening. I only have access to what I do because of our size, so I can see how a small landlord could have some trouble. Simply better tools would make a world of difference for many. Iowa courts is an ok first check, but it’s not the best source, plus what do you do with out of state applicants? If Landlord’s fail to screen or take appropriate action on criminal tenants, then let the free market punish them by the condition of the property, less rents, and a bad name.

]]> By: Sheryl Jahnel http://landlordsoflinncounty.org/forum/call-to-action/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Sheryl Jahnel Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:31:26 +0000 http://landlordsoflinncounty.org/?p=552#comment-41 Of course I am against the proposed Chapter 29 and mandatory Crime Free Agreement. Mandating the Crime Free Agreement will not keep Criminals out of Cedar Rapids. The system that Davenport has requiring back round checks at the time of application, will help get rid of people with criminal history. Davenport's system would help keep criminals out of town. Davenport's system does NOT tell a Landlord they can not rent to people with criminal history. It helps the landlord make an educated decision. Criminals are not a protected class and landlords do not have to rent to them. The mandatory Crime Free Agreement and prpoposed Chapter 29 make the landlord responsible for the behavior of the tenant and tells a landlord how to write the lease. That is too much liability for me. Is Chapter 29 and the mandatory Crime Free Agreement trying to get the criminals out of Cedar Rapids or the good landlords? Of course I am against the proposed Chapter 29 and mandatory Crime Free Agreement. Mandating the Crime Free Agreement will not keep Criminals out of Cedar Rapids. The system that Davenport has requiring back round checks at the time of application, will help get rid of people with criminal history. Davenport’s system would help keep criminals out of town. Davenport’s system does NOT tell a Landlord they can not rent to people with criminal history. It helps the landlord make an educated decision. Criminals are not a protected class and landlords do not have to rent to them. The mandatory Crime Free Agreement and prpoposed Chapter 29 make the landlord responsible for the behavior of the tenant and tells a landlord how to write the lease. That is too much liability for me. Is Chapter 29 and the mandatory Crime Free Agreement trying to get the criminals out of Cedar Rapids or the good landlords?

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