This is not uncommon for vacation rentals, but now cities are starting to enforce it for long-term rentals. Has this happened in your area? Do you think it's a good thing? https://triblive.com/local/wes...

So they create a law and force the requirement on everyone even though the majority of Landlords are good, then they fail to enforce the law on the bad actors. Yep, sounds like government!

Let's be real a lot of these registrations or inspections aren't about safety or creating a better community they are a cash grab. There is a town a few miles away that has a 40/year permit but all you do is send your check in each year. What is the point besides for the town to get 40/rental in an area where there are a lot of rentals. I'm fairly sure there is a housing authority or similar agency where renters can submit complaints in every community so I really see this as an unnecessary burden to landlords. I wouldn't be against more extensive inspections for frequent fliers on the violation list though to ensure they are providing adequate housing and that things aren't simply going unreported that are major safety issues.

@Nathan G. it's not in Austin but was in Minneapolis and I hated it. If you're a slumlord and don't take care of your properties the market will dictate that you don't get as high of rents or occupancy. I don't need the city to police me, a free market is more efficient.

We have them. It starts of once a year and after a few passes it goes to every two years. I think it's a good thing overall but there are some inspectors who are such sticklers that it's insane. Like receiving a conditional pass because the plastic light switch cover has a quarter inch crack in it. I know there are some landlords in my city who have failed to pay the yearly registration fees as well. One would think the city would go after them but as of two years ago I was told the city wasn't doing anything about it (my city also had over a million dollars in unpaid parking tickets but they're finally beginning to boot cars with some frequency so hopefully they get on the bad landlords as well).

I'm glad you brought this up, Nathan. A list should be compiled. I remember looking into some cash flow markets in OH back in the day but was stunned when I saw a casual comment about the inspections/ registration of rentals there. Really? And nobody talks about it ? This needs to be disclosed, especially if it's a known rental investor market.

One of the counties I invest in has inspections, the other two do not. It is not a big deal and I know they made one of the LLs in the neighborhood clean up garbage and get a bigger dumpster so that was a lot better than his tenants leaving trash where they should not (around our dumpster).

Well said! I am not a fan of big government, but then neither am I a fan of slumlords.....but the market will take care of them, albeit eventually..... There is too much room for bad practices in allowing a Govt entity to decide whether or not a property owner can rent their property or not. I went through this for decades with Building Inspectors and their power trips and capricious attitudes. You never know if you're going to get an inspector who just had a fight with his girlfriend and is not going to pass you no matter what.

Not required in my market- I would guess that my state - Idaho, is likely the LEAST regulated state in the country when it comes to real estate. That can, and does cause problems, but mostly for amatuers. If you are operating in a professional way and caring for your properties and tenants, I think less regulation only benefits you.

This would be my recommendation. Create a marketing/education system so it's easy to report violations, including pictures and other attachments. Then have a task force set up to investigate, confirm/deny, send warnings or fines, etc. I see the blanket registration programs as a waste of resources because the slumlords are most likely the ones trying to hide.

Are property inspections/registration required in your market?Are property inspections/registration required in your market?

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