At its meeting on Tuesday, Santa Cruz City Council officially approved an ordinance requiring owners of rental properties to register their properties and submit them for inspection. The measure, approved at its first reading a few weeks ago, passed 5-1, with only Tony Madrigal voting against. He argued that the plan could lead to increased rents for low-income residents. The council rejected the arguments of rental property owners that the program violates their property rights.
According to supporters, the measure became necessary because of a number of problems that current ordinances fail to resolve. Many properties are poorly maintained and overcrowded, while some include illegal construction. Inspections, they explained, are intended to ensure the tenants’ health and wellbeing.
The cost of registering rental properties was set at $45, with inspection costs at a minimum of $20 per unit. The revenue will pay for two municipal inspectors, a clerk and various other expenses, the total cost of which is estimated at just under $325,000 a year. UCSC, which has many of its students housed in rental properties, will contribute to the cost. Read more at Santa Cruz Sentinel.
