The Alexander City Outlook

Renters should be subsidized if law passes

Dear Editor,

Some observations from the recent Town Hall Meeting on leasing, renting, owner and renter. I am going to give examples of how the ordinance is to work.

I own a home for rent. I advertise it for $400 per month. The city comes and inspects the house, if it does not come up to code, I have to bring it up to code. I don’t know what code the city will use – the old code or the new code – because a large percentage of all houses in Alexander City would not pass the new code. So, whatever the city tells me to do to my rental property, I have to do. By the way, this will cost me $100 for the inspection plus whatever they say needs fixing in the house. We will say it will cost $400 to fix everything. This is a modest figure. Does the average person think that I am still going to rent this house for $400? I don’t think so; I will go up on the rent.

Another example: The renter moves in, lives there, and then things begin to go wrong. The sink drips, the commode stops up and starts leaking, the window pane is broken, the house is either too hot or too cold. Then the renter can get the city to come back and inspect the house once again, costing the renter $50. The owner has to fix what is wrong: it if costs a lot, I am going to pass it on.

This is my take on all of this. I believe in the free enterprise system. If I put my house up for tent, I will get the city to inspect it. If it passes the inspection, then I will pay the price for what I will rent it for. If someone rents, pay me my monthly rent or if they don’t like it, then move. I just think it is going to be hard to satisfy all three parties. Poor people live in indecent house more like slums; they don’t have the resources like a lawyer or the city to do anything – so they live in these conditions.

I don’t have all the answers, but the only solution I would have is like the Housing Authority where the government subsidizes them. The management does a good job maintaining rentals and inspections. John Nolen does a good job.

One other point was brought up at the meeting. There are some old, run-down rental houses near some fine expensive homes. I think the city has a duty to make the owners fix them up or condemn them. Give them 90 days to do this or declare them a public nuisance and tear them down.

I.J. Mobley, Alexander City