Some oppose possible New Albany rental registration ordinance

Discussion

July 31, 2010

BY AMANDA ARNOLD newsroom@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Sat Jul 31, 2010, 07:37 PM EDT

NEW ALBANY — The city of New Albany may soon require landlords to register their rental properties, but this idea is causing some concern. Longtime Realtor Pat Harrison recently voiced her opposition to the proposal during a concerned citizens meeting at the Southern Indiana Real Estate Office in Clarksville last week.

“Every time the government does something like this, it’s more and more in our face, and we’re becoming more government controlled, and that’s not the way the U.S. is,” said Pat Harrison of RE/MAX One.

She explained that requiring the registration is another form of control because there is already transparency with landlords.

“Already, there are enough layers with code enforcement and the building commissioner in the city of New Albany. Anyone can call that person (building commission) for an inspection, so why do we have to register,” Harrison said. She also pointed out that property owners even have their records available online for the public to view.

Harrison hopes people voice their opposition to the proposal at Monday’s City-Council meeting.

Also, because there are laws in place for property owners, Harrison pointed out that anyone can call on a property at any time for an inspection.

There is also concern about the costs that will incur from hiring additional staff members to handle registrations.

Perhaps her biggest concern is discrimination against rental property owners.

“It’s not just a rental issue. It doesn’t say just homeowner or rental on a property. If it’s a danger or health hazard it doesn’t matter if it’s a rental or homeowner,” she said. “I’m not against making New Albany look better, but not to our expense. I hate to drive by and see a couch on the porch, I do, but I cant see any reason for this (rental registration) at all. I’m afraid it will go from registration to mandatory inspection. It’s not just the money, it’s the time. They already have a code enforcer who can do it anytime. And it’s even more transparent now with the computer.”