Landlord registration program set to begin in Boardman

Staff report

BOARDMAN

When Zoning Inspector Sarah Gartland went to a rental unit on Shields Road in February, she was horrified by the conditions she found.

There was no heat or running water.

“That’s when we said, ‘We’re going to do something’,” she said.

Getting rental properties — which account for more than 4,000 of Boardman’s 19,000 residences — to meet basic living standards is one of the goals of the landlord registration program Gartland has developed, which she will present for the final time to the board of trustees Nov. 10, when trustees likely will vote on it.

If the board approves the resolution, landlords will be required to register with the zoning department and provide their contact information, as well as pay an annual fee.

The program will cost landlords $40 per rental unit. The cost for property owners who own more than six units will be $150, plus $15 per unit. The fees would be used to cover the costs of the program, which include a salary for one staff person, yearly mailings, abatement of nuisances and legal fees if any cases end up in court, according to Gartland.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and Vindy.com.