Rental housing burden felt city-wide
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Ensuring a community can provide residents safe, affordable, and quality rental housing is a challenge for everyone, especially when updates to the Iowa Code out pace property owner’s budgets.
The Mount Ayr City Council began looking into how to improve and increase the availability of safe, quality housing for renters in the community roughly seven years ago.
After fielding various concerns from tenants, and the sheriff’s office about the number of calls they receive involving renter occupied housing, City Administrator Brent Wise began looking at options in 2018.
“Quality of homes was the main concern,” stated Wise, “We hear people want to rent, and we have a quantity of homes issue.”
Council member Chandra Poore summed up the City’s goal at the most recent council meeting, June 17.
“The point of this was to sort of make things equitable for everybody involved,” said Poore, “I think our main drive was for equity.”
Equitable housing for all residents is a challenge for the City of Mount Ayr, since they currently do not have any authority in this area, as landlords set their own standards.
While the city currently has many city ordinances, including how nuisance properties are handled, they do not have ordinances specific to rental housing as other communities do.
Iowa code requires every city with a population of fifteen thousand or more needs to adopt a housing code, or they will be regulated by the uniform housing code set by the international conference of building officials.
While the population of Mount Ayr and other small towns is below fifteen thousand people, cities may comply with housing codes and adopt an ordinance following guidelines outlined in Iowa Code, City housing codes, section 364.17.
Cities of any size may also adopt enforcement procedures, including a program for regular rental inspections, rental inspections upon receipt of complaints, and certification of inspected rental housing, along with a schedule of civil penalties or criminal fines for violations.
Rental properties in Mount Ayr account for roughly 24 percent of occupied housing units between 2018-2022 according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey.
Between the Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority (Polk Villa and 4 additional units), Heritage Park, Brick Plex apartments, Mount Ayr Manor, and Complete Properties Inc., there are 81 rental units.
Additionally, the city is aware of 37 private property owner/operators or landlords with a variety of rental houses. Most landlords only have a handful of rental homes, and invest their own money into the renovation and upkeep of the properties.
The City of Mount Ayr held two landlord meetings with Jason VanAusdall, a consultant to the city, on Wednesday, June 19 at 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Several landlords attended to learn more about implementing proposed ordinances, associated fees, and voice their concerns.
“We have a deep need for more affordable housing,” says Nicole McGinnis, “I don’t see the need for something of this size.”
Rental property owners like Chase French/Nicole McGinnis, Guy and Cindy Fisher, feel that they are already shouldering the burden of updating and maintaining older homes, which come with a heavy personal investment.
“We bought the property to clean it up for the community,” said McGinnis, “there’s no help or benefits for our protection, no laws helping protect us as landlords.”
“I just don’t think that I’m going to want to be taxed with the permits and having strangers come into houses that we bought with our own money,” stated Guy Fisher, “We didn’t get any federal funding or use anybody’s tax dollars to buy these houses. ”
With the median age of homes in Mount Ayr being 74 years old, they require a lot of updates to meet current electrical codes, and minimum Iowa Code standards.
“Many older homes were built without building codes,” stated Jason VanAusdall, “bedroom egress window cannot be blocked, you need to be able to get out in case of an emergency.”
“What if a house is on fire, and someone can’t get out,” questions Brent Wise.
Ultimately, the property owner is always the responsible party.
- All windows need to lock and egress windows must be able to open according to Iowa Code.
- Bathrooms are also required to have either an open window or an exhaust fan by code.
- Any outlet within 6” of a water source needs GFI protection. VanAusdall recommended installing a GFI breaker or outlet in all bathrooms.
- While cooling systems are not required by Iowa Code, heating must be provided, and the tenant needs to be able to control the temperature.
- Large window air conditioners are not allowed in bedrooms with only one window, as they would block the only exit in the event of a fire.
- Every floor of a house needs to have a smoke and carbon monoxide detector, and every bedroom needs it’s own smoke detector.
Currently, these basic housing standards are not regulated in Mount Ayr, because the city does not have a rental housing ordinances in place.
Another landlord informational meeting is scheduled with Jason VanAusdall, Iowa Inspections, on June 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Ringgold County Courthouse, first floor assembly room. The City of Mount Ayr is holding the meeting to inform landlords of the proposed Rental Housing Inspection Program. Landlords are not required to attend, but are encouraged to, and the meeting is open to the public.
The proposed Rental Housing Code, fee schedule, and rental housing checklist will be available at the meeting, or can be obtained at Mount Ayr City Hall.
