Politics & Government

Rental Licensing Plan Hits a Wall

A St. Charles committee has tabled a program that would create fees for landlords and allow them to kick out tenants accused of "criminal activity."

Plans to impose a license for landlords and install a crime-free requirement in rental property suffered a setback Monday night.

A committee reviewing the proposed Residential Rental Property Licensing and Inspection program voted unanimously to wait another six months before discussing the matter again.

In the same vote, the committee approved an amendment to the St. Charles City Code designed to deal with public nuisances at any property. Specifically, the changes add new behaviors that, if they happen at least twice, could result in a fine and temporary eviction.

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The licensing program has drawn criticism from both property owners and residents. Some landlords have questioned the fee structure proposed to fund exterior property inspections.

Others in the community—including St. Charles Patch blogger —have criticized the crime-free addendum, which requires rental property owners to add to their leases language saying those who partake in criminal activity could be subject to eviction. The nature of what qualifies as "criminal activity," at least according to City legal counsel, falls somewhere between an arrest and a conviction.

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