City launches rental housing inspection program
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Property owners renting out homes or apartments in Moorpark have recently been informed in letters from the city that their properties will be inspected in the near future.

The inspection and permit program was approved by the City Council last year. It excludes owneroccupied residences, second dwellings, room rentals and mobile homes.

The city estimates that 10 percent of the dwellings in Moorpark are rented out, said Community Development director Barry Hogan.

Once a property passes inspection, the landlord will receive a permit from the city showing compliance with municipal codes.

The program seeks compliance, not punishment, city officials said.

"This is a good way to check out rental housing conditions," said Assistant City Manager Hugh Riley.

An inspection would take place once a year, at a first-time cost of about $200 for an individual home.

"This is an annual program, and those that have already gone through the initial inspection would only be charged a renewal fee of about $90," said Hogan.

Fees for apartment inspections will be lower.

The fees will cover part of the cost of implementing the program, but they won't generate any income for the city, said Riley.

Dale Whitaker, who manages six rental units in downtown Moorpark on behalf of his father, is not so keen on the new program.

"They have the authority to do what the ordinance calls for today," he said.

City inspectors, Whitaker said, are allowed to enter and inspect unsafe buildings now, and they can mandate corrections as needed without the permit requirements. Officials should also keep in mind that costs are passed on to tenants, who can least afford them, he added.

Furthermore, most overcrowded homes in downtown Moorpark are owner-occupied, not rentals, Whitaker said.

"Owners rent out rooms to make the house payments, and those homes are not going to be inspected. If the city is serious about health and safety, they'll check every house in Moorpark," Whitaker said.

According to the longtime Moorpark resident, the city has the responsibility to protect both homeowners and renters.

"The city could open itself up to a lawsuit if a house burns because it didn't have any smoke detectors," he concluded.