I think this is wonderful. This is a step in the right direction to getting the "bad" parts of town cleaned up. Make landlords responsible for their dwellings. If it means they have to raise rent to afford upkeep of a dwelling, then so be it. Maybe they will start renting to more respectable tenants rather than criminals looking for cheap rent.

They already do inspections..If a tenant calls the city and complains they will contact the landlord and to set up a time and look at it. I have many rentals in Janesville and have been twice charged fees because my tenants were driving cars with expired plates! Not a joke it goes right on my tax bill and there is noting I can do about it. So after raising garbage collection fees why don't the city just come in my house and steal my T.V.

Yes, I read the full story. No, I still don't see the issue with paying for regular inspections.

I rent an apartment in Janesville, and the additional cost tacked on for city inspectors only would become an issue for me if it was conducted more than once every six months (at the proposed $30/inspection). That's $5 extra a month - or the cost of a fast food meal.

If you, as a landlord, can't recoup $5 extra a month in inspection fees from your tenant, you have far more serious problems than the city accusing you of being a slumlord.

No, more than likely, it's the fear they're going to have to sink thousands into their existing building to resolve issues. But then again, that doesn't hurt a "good" landlord, because said "good" landlord should already be performing the maintenance needed to pass inspection.

whz_bng, you nailed the issue I have with this they are lumping all landlords into one category, like government does they blanket everyone with the same thing even when it isn;t warranted.

All of the landlords that were at the meeting last night did not object to inspections. There are plenty of inspections by various city agencie already. We objected to being grouped with the bad owners who are the problem and being charged a fee to cover their violations.

I partially agree with zdog, its hard to find anyone to care about your property and respect it, sorry for what you have went through. But code violations are violations pure and simple. My daughter lives on the edge of 4th ward rents. Moved in November and has told the management company numerous times of an outlet not working. They have never even come to look at it, or sent anyone. Its hard for the tenants and hard for the landlords. Many incomes don't support 500 a month rent and to impose more on the tenant does not seem fair. However; these houses should have to be inspected at least every 2yrs and have 30 days to fix and or repair code violations and or shut it down. Not fair to the tenant I know. But something needs to be done, been this way for a long time.

Being a landlord sucks that's for sure. I know there are bad ones out there, but a lot of those people living in those places are exactly the cream of the crop either.
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We became "landlords" because we couldn't get our house sold. and decided to rent it out till the market improves. It's a nice house, don't need to get into details, but a nice, newly remodeled home. Needless to say, after the first tenants moved out we would have been better off selling it for a huge loss. Thought we chose tenants wisely, checked background, work, nurse and a contractor, but fulltime and had a decent history.
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after nonpayment of rent, over 4K in damages etc, being a landlord sucks :) Everything from smashed and busted up flooring, to destroyed applliances, garbage, garbage, garbage, destroyed walls, doors, they even broke the damn stairs, destroyed yard and a thick film of smoke on everything. I wonder why anybody is a landlord of anything decent.
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we'll get our judgment, then we'll probably wait to be paid until they file bankruptcy and never see a penny of it.
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anyway, i'm sure there are bad landlords, but it's a two way street. There are a heck of a lot of terrible tenants as well that cause their share of the problem.

It is the best way to deal with slum landlords
Yes the renter would end up paying the cost
Get ride of slum landlords & you get a better city

I watched all of the city meeting last night and the brief summary article does NOT give the necessary details needed to make an intelligent comment.I would have probably made the same comment as CHELLEANDLOU if I had not seen the meeting. Rightfully so the Landlords were concerned about the excessive fees that they would be charged by the city and one mentioned that ultimately the renter would be the one facing the additional costs the city would propose. It looks like the Gazette (see sample front page) will have the complete story with the details so you can understand what is going on better.

Of course landlords wouldn't support it, because it would hold them accountable for unacceptable conditions, code violations, etc. The best thing Janesville could do for renters is toughen it up on landlords more. This will also keep riff raff out and landlords wouldn't have properties falling apart and looking like an inner city slum.