Last weeks post was about Party Houses well since then I attended a community meeting with the Mayor of Santa Cruz, Planning Dept heads at the Santa Cruz Association of Realtors office to discuss a new ordinance.
To back up a bit an emergency ordinance was passed by the City stating that if property owners got numerous complaints about noise, and the police had calls to the property the City could refuse a permit to the owner to expand living space. This is a direct response to the slumlord landlords in Santa Cruz that pack in the students, collect outrageous rent and do nothing in the way of being a good neighbor. As a result surrounding neighbors have had it and apparently the City has too.
One gross violation cited by the Mayor was a property near UCSC that had the basement converted with nothing but drywall separating living spaces and extension cords running to each space, no escape route and about 13 people living in the house, who knows how many in the basement paying who know how much.
Back to the community meeting. A new ordinance to alleviate unsafe housing (health and safety, and zoning violations) is being proposed where property owners of 3 or more units in the City would be required to register for annual inspections which would be done by City inspectors. If the property passes inspection the first time around there are provisions for not having to have another inspection done by the city for a period of 3 or 5 years. Self inspection would be the responsibility of the owner. However, what has property owners upset is the annual fee would still be required which is currently set for $100 per property and $40 per each additional door.
Property Management companies that already conduct annual inspections and the Housing Authority feel they should be exempt because we are already doing inspections.
In addition, vacation rentals are getting hit with a proposed ordinance that would regulate the number of vacation homes allowed in certain areas.
The final ordinance is scheduled for a vote at the July 20th city council meeting. If you want to give your input contact the City or attend the council meeting.
I understand cities are in financial difficulties but creating a negative business environment in the city isn’t going to help our unemployment rate which in Santa Cruz County is around 13%. There is fear that if vacationers have to pay more for rentals they won’t come and stay. If tenants have to pay more for rent they will move. If investors have these ordinances in place it brings down the value of their properties when it comes time to sell.
I think the focus should be on punishing the violators not the 90% who do follow the rules. The violators will just find another way around it or will gobble up resources by fighting what the City plans to do.
My solution would be: If you are a UCSC student you must live on Campus. The university needs to provide housing for all its students. Only graduate students could live off campus.
If code compliance violations are as rampant as the city suggests then there should be a fee attached to every property owner in Santa Cruz via property taxes to pay for enforcement. I own property in Santa Cruz but I would rather pay a small fee in my property taxes than have certain property owners singled out. That is not fair for a few to shoulder the burden of even fewer violators.
Please check out my website at www.PortolaRentals.com if you are interested in properties in Santa Cruz or have rentals in Santa Cruz, CA.
Kathleen Richards
