Kansas City,MO - Tenant Screening Restrictions (Ordinance 190935)

[Rick Novotny]

Hi BP and KCMO Investors!

My properties are not in Kansas City, Missouri. However, I own properties in Independence, Raytown, and soon to be Grandview. I wanted to make sure KCMO property owners are aware!

If this proposal is allowed to continue as proposed you will no longer be able to take the following information into consideration when screening tenants.

• Source of Income
• No criminal background checks
• No credit checks
• Can not take previous eviction history into consideration
• Must work with Section 8, Housing Voucher Programs

In additional to these restrictions, we would also see the creation of a fourth city bureaucracy to oversee rental properties (in addition to codes department, Healthy Homes, and Human Relations/Fair Housing)

To read the full proposed bill, please click the link below:

http://cityclerk.kcmo.org/LiveWeb/Documents/Document.aspx?q=HCXvbAfjdGSKOnNzFF9Wik2YVKi%2F4HvHlX%2BiZ3KKr7bY%2BqNp6hwJiovPe70NXdSv

What Can I Do...? Step Up & Take Action

Step 1 Contact your council members to let them know your thoughts on what’s being proposed in the KC Tenants Bill of Rights and the concept of allowing unqualified tenants to be able to move in anywhere and creating an unfunded mandate for another city department that duplicates currently existing functions. I’ve provided both email and phone numbers for each of the council members on the committee below. Members on the committee Mayor Quinton Lucas Councilman Kevin O’Neill Councilman Dan Fowler Councilman Brandon Ellington Councilwoman Ryana Parks-Shaw You may also reach out to the council member you know best, if that makes you more comfortable. It’s important for all of our representatives to know about what’s going on. You can find contact information for the other council members here: https://www.kcmo.gov/city-hall/city-officials/city-council-members It is VITAL that your voices are heard, so please reach out to the above people right now - TODAY, and reference the specific Ordinance (#190935) and Resolution (#190934) in your communication. Here are some recommended talking points that we suggest using to make sure your voices are heard. Over the last few weeks we have heard all of the horror stories, now they need to hear how these changes will effect everyone involved. Concern over the safety of neighborhoods if restrictions are put on tenant screening Worries about risks to families if housing providers in your neighborhood can no longer screen for criminal history of a potential tenant Fear around how the placement of unqualified tenants could impact a neighborhood Worry about extra bureaucracy and how it will be funded The relationship between landlord and tenant is interdependent, one can not survive without the other, so we need to work together on solutions. A good housing provider with a bad tenant goes bankrupt, a good tenant with a bad housing provider goes homeless. The city has the opportunity with this effort to implement policies to prevent both! Everything proposed in the Tenant Bill or Rights is punitive against landlords. There is no assistance for landlords and no real programs to help tenants. Step 2 Show up for the meeting Wednesday, 11/13 at City Hall (414 E 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64106, 26th Floor, Council Chambers). We want the council to understand that we represent a large group of concerned voters, and we can only do that if our physical presence is seen in that room. Please attend. The council might make a few changes on time and we want to make sure everyone who is planning on attending gets updated. One way to do that is to mark that you’re “Going” in our Facebook event, then as we post updates to the event, those “Going” get notice. Also watch your email, if times change we will email you. Link for event on Facebook: KC Tenant Bill of Right Council Meeting Part 2 If the council accepts testimony on Wednesday, and you wish to testify, make sure you fill out a card prior to the meeting. Please be brief, respectful, and on point with your statement, as you’ll only get two minutes at the podium. The meeting starts at 4pm, but please get there by 3pm because it will fill up. Step 3 We can only reach so many people via email. If you know other home owners in Kansas City, please forward this email to them and encourage them to contact the committee and show up at the event on Wednesday (11/13).