Baltimore County officials are threatening hefty fines on rental property owners who don?t have their units inspected and registered under a new law that takes effect July 1.
Fewer than 10 percent of qualifying properties have complied with a new law requiring rental buildings with one to six units to be inspected, registered and licensed with the county, officials said. The law was championed as a way to crack down on absentee landlords who allow their properties to deteriorate or cram too many tenants into one unit, and officials said they?re prepared to fine owners who refuse inspections $1,000.
“Come July, there will be no excuse for not knowing that you have to do this,” said Mike Mohler, director of the county?s code enforcement bureau. “Because it is a change there has beensome negative reaction, but overwhelmingly people really understand and certainly the tenants welcome this.”
The new law requires a home inspection of each rental by a private, state-licensed inspector to ensure functioning electricity and plumbing, safe windows and ventilation, and that all smoke detectors are hard-wired. Certain rental homes are exempt, including group homes and units that are owner-occupied with no more than one additional unrelated occupant.
So far, Mohler estimated that about 2,700 of between 26,000 and 27,000 qualifying units have been inspected.
The program met with resistance from landlords who said the mandate unfairly burdens responsible owners who maintain their properties. Inspection costs will be passed on to tenants and drive up the rent, they said.
“It?s, ?Oh, the county just wants to make more money,? ” home inspector George Fair said. “It?s a common sentiment.”
But an equal number of owners, Fair said, welcome the inspections. Kathy Howard, a lawyer with the Maryland Multi-Housing Association who testified against the proposal, said most intend on complying.
“I think people are ramping up to deal with it,” she said.
Baltimore County is the only jurisdiction in the area to mandate rental inspections.
