The City of Surprise, Arizona city council has approved a new rental accountability ordinance and will be hiring two new employees whose soul responsibility will be o deal with potential problems. The first "specialist" will be on board by the end of November.

Although the employee will not be looking strictly at rental properties in the city, it is expected that the majority of the two employees duties will revolve around rental units.

The housing boom in Surprise has resulted in an increase in rental properties within the city. The city wants the neighborhoods to be maintained and preserved and the new ordinance is designed to accomplish that goal.

Not everyone is happy with the new ordinance and council member Joe Johnson said that this blames the property owners for everything and he believes that the residents of the property should be responsible as well.

Some aspects of the ordinance according to an article in the Surprise Independent Newspaper include:

* The city could designate sites as "slums" where it is deemed the property is a threat to public health and safety.

* Landowners from out of state are required to maintain an agent in Arizona to serve as a legal contact for the city.

* Inspection for code compliance could be made with permission from either the owner or tenant.

* Costs associated with the city abatements could possibly rest with the property owners.

I believe the ordinances puts the pressure on property management company's to do more than just collect rent and leave everything else to the owner or renter. This may mean an evaluation of what your "property management provider" does for you and an adjustment to a full service provider.

For more information on a full service provider see: www.sellingedge-azre.comor contact me at gthornton@jroberts.com.