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propertyownerormanager.Additionally,somecitiesprovideincentivesforlandlordstoparticipatein <br />theMinnesotaCrimeFreeHousingProgram,whichprovidesclassesforpropertymanagersonhowto <br />effectivelycontrolcrimeontheirproperties.Theseincentivesareintheformofdiscountedpenaltyfees <br />whencodeviolationsarise. <br />Occupancy <br />WhenspeakingwithhousinginspectorsinRoseville,theyidentifiedaprobleminenforcingoccupancy <br />issues.Inthecitiesconsideredhere,mostdonotapproachoccupancyverydifferentlythanRoseville. <br />Theyusesomemeasureofsquarefootagetodeterminehowmanypeopleareallowedtoliveinaunit <br />withaspecificfloorplanandsize.Fourcitiesdonotincludeoccupancystandardsintheirhousing <br />ordinancesatall.Occupancymaybedifficulttoenforce.Alandlordmayknowwhoisontheleaseofa <br />particularunitbutnotwhoisactuallyresidingthere.Overoccupancycancreatesafetyissuesduring <br />fireemergenciesandpotentiallycreateasituationwherelandlords7š“x·reallyknowwhotheyare <br />rentingto.Whilethesestandardsaredifficulttoenforce,severalcitiesrequirethatthelandlordor <br />propertymanagermaintainaregisterwiththenamesofeverypersonthatislegallyallowedtoresidein <br />eachunit.Theregisterissupposedtobeavailableforinspectorstoreviewduringinspections.Whilethis <br />maynotmakeenforcementanyeasier,itmayhelplandlordsbemoreawareofwhobelongsordoesnot <br />belongontheirproperty. <br />Revocation <br />Rentallicenseprogramsoperateundertheassumptionthatthethreatofrevocationwillactasa <br />deterrenttobadpropertymanagement.Withoutarentallicense,propertyownerswillnotbeableto <br />generaterevenuethroughtherentaloftheirproperties,butwilllikelystillhavetopaymortgageand <br />othercosts.However,ofthecitiesthatparticipatedinthisstudy,nonehaveconcreteplansregarding <br />whattodowithtenantsifalicenseistoberevoked.Somecitiesstatedthatlicenserevocationwould <br />meanthelandlordwouldnotbeabletorentanyvacantunits,meaningcurrentresidentscouldremain <br />onthepropertyaslongasitissafetodoso.Othersstatedlicenserevocationmeansalltenantsreceive <br />noticestovacate.Threecitieshavepreviouslyrevokedrentallicenses,oneforcrimeissuesonthe <br />property,oneforpropertymaintenanceissues,andoneforunpaidpropertytaxes.Oneofthesecities <br />reinstatedarevokedlicense.Stafffromonecityexpressedthatwereitnotfortheirrentallicense <br />program,theywouldnothavebecomeawareofglaringproblemswithaparticularproperty.Upon <br />tryingtocontactthepropertyownerwhenalicenselapsed,anothercitynoticedthatthepropertyhad <br />glaringproblemseventhoughtherehadbeennocomplaintsmadebytenants.Thepropertyhadno <br />managementwhatsoever,andtheownerhadabandonedthepropertywhiletenantswerestillresiding <br />there.Thislicensewasrevoked. <br />Inmostcases,citiesarejustaslikelytowanttoavoidrevocationasapropertyownerbecauseofthe <br />lengthyprocess.However,severalcitiesexpressedthatthiswasstillfavorabletothecurrentsystemof <br />litigationthroughthehousingcourts.Onlyonecityexplicitlystatedthatuponpermanentrevocationof <br />alicense,itcouldusetheTenantRemediationActtoforcethepropertyintoreceivership.Ofthecities <br />13 <br /> <br />