Buffalo Grove debates inspections for rental housing

Buffalo Grove officials continue to discuss a program to register and inspect the village’s rental units, though several officials this week voiced concerns it was overly intrusive and discriminatory.

Under the proposal, the village would retain the right to look inside all rental units to ensure they comply with the minimum housing standards and, if they don’t, correct housing conditions affecting the life, safety, general welfare and health of occupants.

Deputy Building Commissioner Carol Berman said the properties would include both multifamily and single-family rentals.

“The communities that we have talked to that have this program and have had it for years are very happy and feel that it has added another dimension, that they have control and have the ability to deal with problems as they arise with a lot of these rental communities,” she said.

Deputy Building Commissioner Brian Sheehan added that with the large number of foreclosures in recent years, rentals are becoming more common.

“It seems (that) some of the longer term problems are with rental properties, either with off-site owners or owners that are out of state,” he added. “The registration is going to be a big help with getting things corrected in a timely fashion.”

But both Village President Jeffrey Braiman and Trustee Jeffrey Berman said what’s currently proposed is too intrusive. Braiman said it is also somewhat discriminatory, because the village would require something of a rental property that is not required of an owner-occupied property.

“What’s the difference? The same type of violations could be occurring in an owner-occupied as in a rental,” he said. “So if you’re not going to inspect the owner-occupied, why should you be inspecting the rental?”

Berman said he does not oppose registering rental units so the village can obtain contact information, but said “it is much more intrusive” to be inspecting the properties uninvited.

“I don’t think that the overarching justification is there for the notion of going into every rental unit in this community and walking into people’s homes,” he said.

Trustee Lester Ottenheimer backed the program, calling it a “life safety issue.”

“If the village can do something to help tenants and keep properties safe, then I don’t see there is a downside to it,” he said. “If you live in your own home, you’re going to take better care of it than if you’re renting from someone. I think it makes common sense.”