Don’t find your self in political cross hairs. Don’t be a blight to the neighborhood. Maintain your home. We can help both by getting a renter to assist you in financing the maintenance and in actually coordinating the maintenance.[/caption]Landlords with properties in Lorain may be aware of the city’s efforts to “clean up” the city. This plan has included charging landlords for “inspections” that may or may not actually be conducted. Hiring contractors to drive around the city looking for lawns to mow and then charging the owners $300 for the service (despite the fact the city is unable to maintain the grass in city parks).
Part of this plan has also been seizing and demolishing houses they deem to be dilapidated or beyond repair. However, who gets to make those decisions? AND how are these decisions properly vetted, so that the owner is given the proper channels to despite the decision and/or make repairs to the property?
If you follow the local news, you have probably heard that a house belonging to George Schneider was recently demolished despite the fact he was in the process of protesting the decision, and he had been granted a permit by the city to make repairs to the property. He had contractors at the house making a plan for repairs only days prior to the home being demolished.
Now, this isn’t to argue the house was not in poor shape, or that Mr. Schneider should not have been held responsible for maintaining his property. However, the fact remains that he was actively working towards repairing the home, and he was following the proper legal channels to protest the decision to demolish his property.
So if Mr. Schneider was following the proper legal channels laid out by the city, what channels was the city following when they demolished his property? Who is to be held responsible for what happened? Mr. Schneider is now suing the city and a judge will have to sift through the mess to figure out who was more wrong.
Properly maintaining a rental property is an essential part of the business. Properly maintained units rent faster and for more money. A properly maintained property will maintain its value better, as well as the value of the surrounding homes, which will make your neighbors happy. It’s good for the landlord, the tenants, the city, the neighbors, and the community as a whole. In addition to being a solid business decision, maintaining properties demonstrates a landlord’s commitment to the area.
One of the many problems landlords face in regards to maintaining properties is vandalism. Unfortunately, areas such as Lorain and Elyria have been riddled with vandalism; people stealing copper pipes, aluminum siding, and more. The best way to combat these risks is by keeping units rented and empty units secured.