Residential Rental Registration Program

[Lukeup]

Richardson Texas passed a rental registration ordinance a while ago but is now enforcing and prosecuting the inspection portion of the ordinance. We were hesitant to register our one and only rental property because of the language in the ordinance that allows the city to get in and inspect the property. We, fortunately, are handy around the house and we have sites like this to ask for help if needed. The inspections weren?t really the issue in regards to finding code or health and safety problems, it was the city forcing the landlord to invade the privacy of the tenant to do inspections that the landlord and tenant are already responsible for.

Yes, Texas property code and residential lease inventory forms cover the same things that the inspectors inspect. We were advised to register the rental and schedule the inspection so we would not be fined $2000.

The tenant denied the city inspectors access protecting his 4th amendment rights. The City of Richardson took us to court protecting the tenant?s 4th amendment rights. And we were convicted for not making the rental property available for inspections. The city of Richardson just made it a crime in Texas for a tenant to refuse an unwarranted search of his home and convicted the landlord for protecting the tenant?s privacy. Convoluted??

Yes, Texas of all places, infringing on the privacy rights of tenants and landlords. Rental registration programs are becoming the in thing for city?s to get into. Extra revenue, they get to go in to people?s homes and look for code violations, cite them and bring in more revenue without publicly raising taxes.

This is not a complaint. This is just for informational purposes only. Insure repairs you make are up to city codes. Who knows when the city will think they are entitled to enter a homeowners property to make sure it is safe for you to live in.

[gcoxusa]

I live in Richardson and had not heard about this ordinance before. I definitely do not like the sound of it. I am really getting tired of governmental over-reaching. Were the citizens of Richardson allowed to actually vote for this?

[Lukeup]

Hi, Ordinance 3847. You might be able to get more information at http://www.richardsontexaslandlords.com and http://www.richardsontexastenants.com.

Several folks have tried to talk to the city council about it and it may be a big deal with the mayoral election. Amir Omar is an advocate for the tenants and landlords and he is running for Mayor.

The city manager tried to force us to open our tenant’s home against the tenant’s wishes. The case is currently in the Dallas county court of appeals. The city over stepping their authority and violating the 4th amendment rights of the tenant and landlord in Richardson Texas.