Rental Licensing and Inspection Program UpdateMemorandum
To: Mayor Eugene J. Maxwell and City Council Members
From: Christopher P. Kearney, Building Official
Date: June 11, 2013
Re: Rental Licensing and Inspection Program Update
Rental Licensing and Inspection Program Update
Inspection staff did it. Every licensed rental property in the City of Hopkins has been inspected at
least once. It took just under five years to get into every licensed rental property. Inspection staff
has worked diligently to reach this goal. This meets the purpose of the program which is to assure
rental housing in the City of Hopkins is decent, safe, sanitary and maintained as not to become a
nuisance or blight.
New Housing Inspector
Susan Zasada was hired in September 2012 as a Rental Housing Inspector and has played a vital
role in the department. She brings an excellent work ethic and professionalism to the department.
One of Susan's first tasks was to go through the data base and make a list of the rental properties
that we had not inspected since we started the revamped program in 2008. Along with routine
rental inspections, she also handles all the pre -rental inspection of properties getting licensed for
the first time.
Inspector Laptop Field Computers
Since the last update the Housing Inspectors have stepped into the technology age. Inspectors
now use Toughbooks computers in the field to record inspection results. They are able to
generate an inspection report in the field, have the property owner or manger sign it on the
laptop screen and email it to the owner when they get back to the office. This paperless
application has made the entire routine rental process more efficient.
Category Findings
After the inspection process, properties are scored and put in a category of A, B or C. Category
A properties are inspected on a 3 year cycle, Category B on a 2 year cycle and Category C
every year. In the chart below you will find the type and number of dwellings inspected, and the
percentage of each category properties fell into since the last update. As you can see in the
chart below, the number of units inspected has increased substantially since the first full year of
the new inspection program in 2009.
2011 Rental Inspections
Dweling Type
# Inspected
Category A
Category B
Category C
Single Family
57
19%
39%
42%
Duplex
100
33%
27%
40%
Triplex/Fourplex
6
17%
33%
50%
Condo
181
51%
31%
18%
Townhome
46
35%
18%
47%
Apartment
322
81%
16%
3%
Total Units Inspected
826
2012 Rental Inspections
Dweling Tvae
# Inspected
Category A
Category B
Category C
Single Family
44
32%
32%
36%
Duplex
85
23%
33%
44%
Triplex
2
100%
0%
0%
Condo
177
50%
21%
29%
Townhome
58
62%
24%
14%
Apartment
352
80%
19%
1%
Total Units Inspected
807
2009 Rental Inspections
Dweling Type
# Inspected
Category A
Category B
Category C
Single Family
48
38%
42%
20%
Duplex
68
25%
54%
21%
Condo
52
71%
19%
10%
Townhome
31
29%
45%
26%
Triplex
4
0%
25%
75%
Fourplex
2
0%
0%
100%
Apartment
186
46%
52%
2%
Total Units Inspected
473
Revenue vs. Expenditures
The Rental Licensing and Inspection Program is now generating enough revenue to offset
expenditures. In 2012 revenue exceeded expenditures by $6,700. Numbers so far in 2013
show we will have about the same results as 2012.
Answers to Questions Raised by the City Council at the Work Session with the
Hennepin County Assessors.
Some questions came up at a work session with the Hennepin County Assessor regarding
building improvement projects in the high rental area in South West Hopkins. Listed below are
building improvement projects Since 2007 in the area in question.
Peace Valley Townhomes
• All new siding
• All new windows and doors
Meadow Creek Condominiums
• All new roofs
• All new exterior doors in the common laundry room areas of each building
• Replacement of some front doors and some boilers
• Upgrade of exterior lighting
Westbrooke Patio Homes
• Many new patio doors, windows, water heaters, and HVAC units
• Building permit application is in for new outdoor swimming pool and pool house
Westbrooke North
• All new roofs
Westbrooke West
• Garage roofs and repairs made
Park Valley Condominiums
• All new siding, soffit and fascia
Another question that came up at the work Session with the Hennepin County assessor was,
is the number of rental properties increasing? The answer to that question is in the chart
below.
Rental #'s
Type of Rental
2006
2013
Single Family & Condo
696
716
Townhouse Units
108
163
Duplex
146
199
Apartment Units
4181
4209
Total
5131
5287
Possible Rental Ordinance Additions
1. "In all cases where the owners of a rental dwelling lives outside a 50 -mile radius of the
rental dwelling, the owner must name an operator living within the 50 -mile radius of the
rental dwelling" Having a local manger will make it easier for scheduling, getting the
routine rental inspection completed and the property in compliance. A local manger also
gives the tenant a contact to call when issues arise.
2. "Licensee shall provide proof of criminal background checks on tenants within seven
days of request by Building Official" At this time, we ask the property owner to check a
box on the license application stating that they have done criminal background checks
on tenants. Staff feels this additional language will actually let us see proof of the
background checks being done when requested.
3. "Licensee shall post current rental license on premises in the immediate area of front
entry" Staff feels this addition would benefit Police and other City employees as they
enter a rental property they will know immediately it rental and it has a current license.
Staff believes the program is working. Life safety and health issues such as illegal bedrooms
in basements, missing fire separation walls between garage and dwelling units, unsanitary
conditions, lack of smoke detectors and C.O. alarms, as well as other life safety issues are
being corrected.