Richardson Rental Inspections

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Neighborhood Stabilization 

2/21/2013

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At the city work session of February 18, the city council discussed "neighborhood stabilization program alternatives."  http://richardsontx.swagit.com/play/02182013-636

They talk about rentals like they're the source of every problem in the neighborhoods.
Let us make it clear: it's not that rentals are bringing "nice" neighborhoods down.
Once the neighborhood starts deteriorating or values go down enough for rentals to cash flow, rentals start popping up.  If you don't want rentals in your neighborhood, act proactively to keep the values up.

1) Yes, Richardson is an aging city, but older neighborhoods don't necessarily mean deterioration. 
In our neighborhood (houses built around 1960), younger couples are moving in and updating the houses where former residents lived for 30-40 years, doing very few upgrades.  We also see quite a few teardowns and people are building new houses from the ground up.  Housing values have gone up in our neighborhood.

One of the problems is so many small houses with one-car garages were built in many areas decades ago and values will go up only so much, based on the size of the lot and house.

2) The city knows the "problem" areas and should be concentrating its energy and resources there.
(In 2003, the rental registration/inspection program was conceived when some residents complained about on-street parking on Dearborn Dr.)

Instead, the city is inspecting tons of properties that are in prospering or good neighborhoods, while the ones that need the most attention, in easily identifiable blighted areas, don't get the attention they deserve.

3)  About slapping "cheap paint and carpet" on rentals:
We use Glidden satin on all our rentals, the same grade many homeowners use.
It's the BUILDERS who use the cheapest contractor-grade flat paint for non-custom homes.
We've bought several brandnew homes and know this first hand. (Also, they put in the cheapest appliances that often break in a year or so.)

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Constitutional Rights Violated in Richardson

2/15/2013

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Today was a sad day...

Today two citizens of Richardson had their constitutional rights violated.

They refused a rental inspection of the house they're renting, but the city cited and coerced the landlord.  The landlord in turn coerced her tenants to agree to an inspection, by trying to evict them and also having her attorney send them an intimidating letter.

The inspector got into every bedroom, including the daughter's, and looked in every kitchen and bathroom cabinet and behind every shower curtain.

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Landlord Prosecution Continues

2/6/2013

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Last week the city cited another landlord whose tenant refused to allow an inspection.


Not all landlords can stand up against the city.
This landlord tried to evict her tenant for not agreeing to an inspection!


An unlawful eviction is prohibited by Texas Property Code.
Also, evicting a tenant for a reason other than non-payment of rents is very hard.


This is what the unreasonable ordinance does--pitting (not so strong) landlords against tenants, forcing the landlords to violate the tenants' rights.

This tenant is afraid that the landlord may not renew his lease.  He really likes his house and neighborhood and doesn't want to move.  His plan was to buy a house in Richardson within a few years.  Because of this experience, he probably won't buy a house in Richardson.  Who wants to?!
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