If You're Tired of Forced Rental Property Inspections, Read This

[Anthony Chara]

Over the past few years as I travel the country, I hear more and more people saying that their municipalities are now requiring Landlords to let the city into their rental properties. On top of that, the Landlord has to pay for this Forced Inspection. Well, it's about time people have started to fight back.

A few years ago, 1851 Center for Constitutional Law, (https://OhioConstitution.org), is the first law firm I heard about that took up the mantle to fight the government on behalf of property owners over what really is nothing more than a new tax on Landlords under the guise of "We're doing it to protect Renters from Slum Lords". BS!!! 1851 successfully argued in Ohio, that these inspections are unconstitutional and violated the Renters' rights as the 'government' basically was 'searching' the Renters' abode without a warrant or their permission to enter the premises.

Now, Landlords and Renters in Seattle are fighting back too. Again, under the government guise of "We're here to help", Seattle is now requiring Renters to allow them to inspect their rental unit just by showing up at the door. If the Renter refuses, the government can charge the Landlord up to $500 per day. This, in essence, tries to force Landlords into coercing their Renters into opening up their doors so the government inspectors can check the unit without a warrant. It's time we all started fighting back. Read this article to learn more.

https://rentalhousingjournal.com/landlords-and-tenants-sue-seattle-over-mandatory-rental-inspections/?utm_source=Master+Vendors&utm_campaign=4c874c307b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_12_05_02_59&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4780df7d33-4c874c307b-113929429

The law firm in this article says they have brought legal action against municipalities across the country. If you're in an area where your city/county/state is forcing you to have your rental properties inspected, you might want to reach out to this firm to help you fight your local government's unconstitutional inspections and money grab!!!

[Chris Mason]

Originally posted by @Mary M.:

Welllllllll...... while i dont know the reason this all started, there have been some hideous fires that killed people - the most fresh in my mind is the ghost ship fire in Oakland 2 years ago.  It seems the inspectors never actually got in the unit so never saw the fire trap that was this “artists space”  30+ people died as they were trapped inside when a fire broke out. - there were no fire escapes and bars on the windows. 

So perhaps there are other reasons for the inspections than just govt overreach. 

 In that case, there was probable cause. It had been reported to city authorities numerous times prior to the fire.

At issue here is instances wherein the local government has zero probable cause, and zero warrants. 

This isn't directed at you, but at the thread/discussion in general. Below is the text of the 4th Amendment, an oldie but a goodie. 

If someone calls the local code enforcement authority and says "hey I'm pretty sure that place is a death trap, because I saw x, y, and z" then that's probable cause "supported by oath or affirmation." 

In OP's case, they are in a state court so they are citing the state constitution rather than the federal constitution as I did above.