Onerous new landlord regulations propose City of Lakeland Florida

[Michael Hassell]

My local REIA (PCREIA) just sent out an email detailing significant and onerous proposed regulations for landlords. I can't recall ever seeing such onerous requirements for rentals. I'm wondering if anyone else has, and then how best to fight this. #2, the "administrative search warrant" actually sounds unconstitutional...can they even do such a thing?

Here are just a few items you will see in the draft proposal of the ordinance and resolution:

1) They will "require that we provide the city with a list of the names of all tenants in each unit"

2) They will "require that the owner agrees to allow inspection of the interior and exterior of the unit at any reasonable time..." and they can even enter your property with something called "an administrative search warrant"...what the heck is an administrative search warrant? Is code enforcement now going to be allowed to create a search warrant and enter any property they want?

3) They require that the owner or designated property manager be available and can be contacted 24 hrs per day, 7 days per week regarding the rental unit

4) They can deny issuance of or revoke your registration application so that you cannot rent your property

5) The fee for one unit starts at $100 per unit per year and can go up to $2000 per unit if you ever have code citations...please see the fee schedule.....  

http://files.constantcontact.com/55290476001/e40f2...

Thoughts?  Advice?

[Adrian Smude]

@Michael Hassell thanks for bringing this topic up here so we can get some more traction on this! Chuck from our REIA has stopped this in other areas a number of times, but this appear to be moving faster and trying to hide it better this time. I am hopeful our calls and emails to the city officials will come to reason. With that said hopefully someone out there in BP can shed some light on their experiences and advice for us.