Residential landlords must register rental properties in Island Lake
Island Lake's residential landlords will have to register their properties with the village and submit to periodic inspections under a plan adopted Thursday night.
The ordinance replaces older rules for rental properties that didn't effectively ensure units met local safety codes, village Building Commissioner Wayne Schnell said.
“Most landlords of apartment complexes know what needs to be done when preparing a unit for rent, but homeowners who can't sell a home and then decide to rent it need some guidance,” Schnell said.
Common safety violations discovered during inspections include missing or faulty smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors, exposed wiring and improper heating or cooling unit installations, Schnell said.
Under the old rules, rental inspections were conducted when tenants called to set up water or garbage service, Schnell said. But if the landlord paid for those services and didn't request an inspection, village officials wouldn't know tenants changed, he said.
Under the new rules, landlords must register their properties and submit to inspections every two years. New registrations and inspections are required if tenants change.
Applications will require information about landlords — including name, phone number and email address — as well as the names of all adult tenants in the rental property.
“I see it as a way to hold landlords a little more accountable,” Schnell said.
Applications are due within the next 120 days for all residential rental properties in the village.
The initial registration fee is $50. The fee jumps to $150 if that deadline passes.
The re-inspection fee is $30.
Existing rental properties are exempt from the initial inspection.
In the future, registration will be required at least one month before the current registration expires.
When it came time for a vote, Trustee Keith Johns was the lone opponent. He questioned the wording of the ordinance and its intent, accusing attorney David McArdle of creating “a bigger problem.”