Buffalo Grove hikes fees on landlords for rental inspections

Increased fees for owners of rental properties are among the changes Buffalo Grove trustees approved this week to the village's Residential Rental Program.

The program was put in place in 2012 to help maintain a high standard of living and protect the village's home values and quality. It requires the owners of rental units to obtain or renew an annual license, which includes an application, registration fee and inspection.

Inspections for rentals in condos, duplexes, row homes, townhouses or single-family homes are performed annually. For apartment complexes, 25% of units are inspected every year.

Deputy Village Manager Christopher Stilling said Monday that fees had not changed since the program began eight years ago. The changes are "an effort to create new efficiencies and recover direct costs," he said.

Fees will rise from $75 to $85 for condos, duplexes, townhouses, row homes and single-family homes. For apartment buildings, fees will go from $150 per building plus $30 per unit to $150 per building and $40 per unit.

Late fees would move from $75 to $85, within 30 days of a license expiration, and $170 for more than 30 days.

The village also will impose a $60 absentee inspection charge and a $60 penalty for cancellation within 24 hours.

"This is something we had a lot of issues with," Stilling said. "We have had people that would cancel in less than 24 hours or not show up."

The changes also allow for biannual inspections for certain residential properties that received three or less violations as part of their annual inspection.

"Staff is confident that we will retain our high level of service in monitoring Buffalo Grove's rental units," Stilling said. "The proposed new structure will not diminish the service level but instead prioritize resources and allow for a more customer friendly approach for those that have continuously complied with the regulations."