tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944244558806877209.post9133769143448596628..comments2023-10-25T21:11:44.375-07:00Comments on Twilight Zoning in Bellingham: City Council Moving Rapidly on Rental Registration and InspectionsZonemavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02853753467348220533noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944244558806877209.post-21762991143566462014-12-12T06:54:50.045-08:002014-12-12T06:54:50.045-08:00These inspections are hardly an invasion of privac...These inspections are hardly an invasion of privacy. The actual inspection will take about 30-60 minutes once every three years at the maximum. The courts have ruled on this issue in Washington State. Inspectors will not be poking into your personal items.<br /><br />I appreciate that you have the ability yourself to inspect a property before you move in or to determine if it remains safe while you are in it. Unfortunately, others are not sufficiently trained to spot health and safety problems. If you have been reading my blog you already know this. <br /><br />Landlords have regularly been raising rents for decades but for no other reason than that they can, given the tight rental market. The annualized costs of these inspections will not be prohibitive if spread among all landlords. Don't forget, the landlord is not obliged to pass on the cost of inspections. Why not ask your landlord if he would be willing to absorb the cost for your benefit?<br /><br />Oh, and your comment sounds just like so many I get from the landlords themselves. Could this be a coincidence? Thanks for writing.Zonemavenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02853753467348220533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944244558806877209.post-1903855650562095602014-12-11T21:47:34.390-08:002014-12-11T21:47:34.390-08:00Dear Mr. Conoboy, I’ve read your blog for some tim...Dear Mr. Conoboy, I’ve read your blog for some time and have been quite torn about this issue. Why? I rent, and I value my privacy. If I have issues with my unit I deal with my landlord and if I had to, I’d go to the city using already existing laws. I check and inspect anyplace I might rent before renting. If it is in bad shape I leave. Per proposed city language and the RCW 59.180.150 I must allow an inspector to “enter my castle”. My landlord has stated that access to my unit by me is strictly between me and the inspector, and they will not interfere. Is this really necessary? If there is no reason for me to complain and I am happy with my situation why should I allow the city to violate my 4th amendment right? Via RCW 59.180.150 I can refuse entry, which will only force the city to obtain a warrant to “enter my castle.” This process is not cheap and further burdens an already busy court. Was/is this cost of generating warrants taken into account in the cost of the program? Also, I work and I cannot afford the time to simply be around waiting for an inspector to show up “between the hours of 10 and 2.” Lastly, my landlord has stated that they will pass the cost of this inspection program to me via a rent increase. I already have just enough to get by. Taking food out of my mouth is the last thing I need. While there may be a small minority of people with issues the majority of us are just fine. Like so many similar causes, a very vocal minority show up and bleat on about an issue that affects so few. These vocal few will affect so many of us that want no part of this. Curious to hear your comments. Signed, a tenant that wants to be left alone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944244558806877209.post-70421874760829835002014-12-11T15:43:08.224-08:002014-12-11T15:43:08.224-08:00Retal control inspectors
Yes yes OF COURSE priva...Retal control inspectors<br /><br />Yes yes OF COURSE privately hired inspectors will do a better manipulative job in favoring rental interests in "tweaking" their reports a little<br />But I am baffled how such "loopholes" will, in any way, serve the public interest or support the basic integrity of the intented effort to control the mess that now exists under "no control" edictsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com