PISSED OFF GAY NEIGHBOR

The rental registration program is a good idea and is desperately needed by Athens neighborhoods. I applaud Mr. McCommons' support of the gay/lesbian community, but our country's denial of my civil rights, including the right to marry, is a separate and much different issue from the rental registration program. As a queer person in Athens, I feel I have more to fear from the many Republican-voting, SUV-driving over-privileged tenants who live and do as they please across the street (and next door and next door to that!) than I do from the slim possibility I might be in violation of an ordinance by living with a partner and another friend. Further, even if we chose to live with another person, we would be in compliance anyway, as we co-own the house. Ironically, while we chose to buy a home in an SR neighborhood that we could afford without having to rely on the income from a renter living with us, we couldn't afford to rent a house in my neighborhood because the rental rates are double our mortgage payment!

I also fear that the out-of-control rental situation in our neighborhoods is making it very difficult for residents and families - gay/lesbian, straight or other, to purchase reasonable housing in Athens. Can a city remain healthy when primarily transient individuals who have no emotional investment in us, their neighbors, are occupying 60 percent of SR homes? Why should landlords be the only ones who can run a business without any control? Even folks who run businesses out of their home have to have a business permit, meet certain building codes, health laws, and abide by numerous other laws. Any other business in town that violates ordinances can be fined or shut down (think: bars and underage drinking).

I have spent a lot of time and effort contacting landlords about stopping violations that occur on their business premises in my neighborhood and not one has ever replied to me. I believe it is time that landlords and tenants start thinking about win-win solutions, stop thinking only of themselves and give a little thought to the rest of Athens.

Sign me pissed-off gay neighbor and hardworking honest citizen (with a lifelong partner for 21 years)!

Pissed-Off Gay Neighbor
Athens

FIX THE RENT LAW

Dear Mayor and Commissioners: I agree with the need for a rental registration program and a fee structure to support enforcement efforts. However, I feel the registration process as proposed fails on several counts; it will still be incredibly difficult to enforce and it punishes landlords who act responsibly while giving irresponsible landlords an "out." Thus, the proposed ordinance fails to facilitate a market model for economic activity.

As for the issues being addressed with rental registration in single-family zones, I see two main objectives: modify un-neighborly behavior and check real estate prices which have soared out of reach for single families. I would like to address each issue in turn.

Un-neighborly neighbors (noise, trash, too many cars, etc.): From my perspective, these problems are the result of too many years of unenforceable ordinances or an explicit lack of enforcement of existing laws. My understanding is that for noise violations and such, our police force was specifically instructed to not issue citations. Perhaps with the new noise ordinance and a new policy of the present commission to instruct the ACC PD to issue citations, these types of behavior can be curbed.

Investors driving up real estate prices in single family neighborhoods: I posit that this is primarily the result of the county's failure to enforce the two-unrelated party ordinance, which this proposed ordinance is attempting to address. I would like to suggest the ordinance be amended such that penalties for certain types of quality of life violations (e.g. too many occupants) attach to the property. This approach has several benefits in my opinion and is consistent with other laws, such as holding bar and restaurant owners (or bartenders) responsible for serving underage patrons.

The proposed ordinance seems to split responsibility for registering occupants between owner and tenant. Asking tenants to bear some of the burden of registration leaves somebody (i.e. the owner) an "out." If the owner is responsible for finding out who the tenants are and how they are related, and there are severe consequences for failure to do so, part of the work necessary for enforcement will be lifted from the county and placed squarely on the owner. Which brings me to the main point of my argument.

Right now there are no market forces at work to protect single family neighborhoods. There are substantial rents to be had with little or no costs associated with violating existing laws. The ACC government is responsible for this phenomenon through enforcement issues cited above. Ticketing the property would place responsibility on the owner of the property, as it should, as the owner derives the greatest benefit from rents. The property owner must register rental property and find out who his tenants are. Will it be a hassle? Sure, but the hassle should be considered a cost of renting in single-family districts. For owner's who do monitor their tenants, registration fees could decrease in succeeding years. In other words, only the "bad" landlords will face increased costs.

If costs of renting in single-family neighborhoods rise, and revenues are decreased through enforcement of the two-unrelated-tenant ordinance, owning to rent in single-family neighborhoods should be less attractive and market values should return to affordable levels. If owning property in single family neighborhoods becomes too bothersome (i.e. not profitable), many properties will be resold to people who can afford to purchase and occupy the property.

Finally, if the owner of the property does live on site (traceable through homestead exemptions), perhaps two unrelated parties in addition to the owner could be allowed, thus removing a "punishment" for "good" owners who have taken on tenants to help pay the mortgage. Coupled with the enforcement of other quality of life ordinances, this should make a palatable compromise to most.

Tony Eubanks
Athens