Mayor approves new rental inspection pilot program for Milwaukee's Uptown neighborhood
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — Milwaukee renters now have a new way to address safety concerns with their property.
More than 200 rental units in Milwaukee's Uptown neighborhood will be eligible for the City of Milwaukee's Rental Property Inspection Program.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson signed legislation Thursday, Oct. 8, to enact the program, which will allow the City's Department of Neighborhood Services to perform inspections of rental properties without a formal complaint against the landlord, as long as the property's occupant gives permission to city inspectors.
DNS will pilot the program within the borders of N. Sherman Blvd., W. North Ave., N 50th St., and W. Center St., aiming to tackle habitual violations outlined in state law.
City leaders identified that area due to data regarding tenant complaints.
"If you look at a heat map of these concerns from neighbors across the city of Milwaukee, it is bright red in the uptown neighborhood," explained Mayor Johnson. "We're going to go exactly where folks need this sort of service the most."
DNS data showed 58% of rental properties in that area had filed at least one complaint in the last three years. 62% of properties have landlords that reside outside of Milwaukee.
The city will send all eligible renters a letter requesting to conduct an inspection.
If the occupant agrees, and inspectors find violations, the landlord will have 30 days to rectify the issues.
If the violations are fixed in time, or if no violations are granted in the first place, the property will be granted a five-year exemption from the program, unless a formal complaint is later filed.
"You've proved to us that you want to be responsible and a partner with the city," explained Alderman Russell Stamper, who represents the district where the program will be enacted.
It is meant to be a proactive way to hold landlords accountable for proper maintenance, while taking the pressure off of tenants.
"A lot of properties don't have code violations against them that should have them, right. It takes somebody doing the reporting," explained Dawn Hutchinson-Weiss, the coordinator of the Reclaiming Our Neighborhoods coalition.
Reclaiming Our Neighborhoods is made up of 11 community-based neighborhood groups in Milwaukee. Community members from the coalition will work alongside the Department of Neighborhood Services to encourage renters to participate in the program.
"We are a familiar face to the residents - in trying to create a sense of comfort for them," said Ana Branderhorst, who works with RON through the Sherman Park Community Association. "You should be able to live in healthy safe homes. That's the bottom line."
The pilot program will expire after five years. If deemed successful, it can then be re-upped by the Milwaukee Common Council and expanded to include additional neighborhoods.
