Deadline for Landlord Licensing and Rental Property Registration is approaching in Cedar Rapids

Letter to the Editor - The Gazette

There was an article in The Gazette on the Landlord Licensing process in Cedar Rapids. The letter was published in the Thursday, October 21, 2010 edition of the paper.

http://thegazette.com/2010/10/20/landlord-licensing-process-poorly-run/

The new Chapter 29 in Cedar Rapids requires all property owners involved in rental activity of residential properties to get a local license from the City and register all properties within the City of Cedar Rapids that are being used for rental activity. The new registration and licensing requirements in Cedar Rapids should be completed by the end of October, 2010.

Tommy Tucker Realty Co. does hold a Landlord License to Lease, Rent and Manage properties under Chapter 29 of the Municipal Code in the City of Cedar Rapids. Previously property owners were not required to be licensed. We can lease, rent and manage your property under our license, if you desire to seek outside management services for your rental houses and apartments. Registration fees are required.

If you have questions about Chapter 29 of the local municipal code, please contact the City or you can talk to us at Tommy Tucker Realty Co., regarding our property management services.

ttrco

Update on Housing, Licensing and Registration in the City of Cedar Rapids

We received notice from the City of Cedar Rapids that we have our License for the new Chapter 29 of the Municipal Code, which is requiring all owner / operator /landlord providers for rental housing in Cedar Rapids to obtain. Further, everyone needs to register or re-register all rental properties in the City by the end of the month. Registrations have been a requirement for some time, but the License with the City is new. Regardless, new paperwork is needed and the City's web site has the following message:

NEW LANDLORD LICENSE & REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
All Landlords must apply for a landlord license and re-register all of
their residential rental properties within the city limits by October
31st, 2010. All forms are found on this page. If you have any questions
feel free to give us a call at (319) 286-5197 or stop by our office.

We are working with our property owners to re-register all the properties we manage for various clients here in the City of Cedar Rapids. The process is pretty straight forward, but it does require time.

The Gazette had an article in the Thursday paper titled 'Few of C.R.'s landlords in compliance with new law.'

If you own rental property in the State of Iowa, you should likely check with the municipal authority to determine what your local licensing requirement are. The City of Marion has a different system, for example, than the City of Cedar Rapids.

In other business activity, meet with fellow Brokers with the Cedar Rapids Association of Realtors this morning. Good meeting and everyone was reminded about Chapter 29 in Cedar Rapids.

ttrco

Cedar Rapids: City’s New Landlord Licensing Program in Effect

Housing News in the City of Cedar Rapids, the week of August 23, 2010:

The City of Cedar Rapids Code Enforcement Division has begun
implementing the new landlord licensing and rental housing registration program
as part of the new Chapter 29 of the Municipal Code. This program includes new
requirements for landlord licenses, rental housing registration and tenant
agreements.

Landlord Licenses
Landlords, property owners and rental property operators
are now required to be licensed in order to rent residential properties in Cedar
Rapids. This license is only required one time per landlord/owner/operator. The
license fee is $50.00. License applications are available at the Code
Enforcement Division’s office in the Public Works building at 1201 6Th Street
SW. In addition, applicants must submit a list of all rental unit housing to be
associated with the license. There is a $1,000 penalty for each month of a
delinquent license or rental unit registrations after October 31, 2010.

Rental Housing Registration
All rental housing must be registered annually. The registration fees range from
$30.00 for single family dwellings or duplexes to $25.00 for multi-family
dwellings plus $8.00 for individual apartments or units. All rental units
transferred or purchased after July 19, 2010 must be registered within 30 days
of the transaction. There is a $1,000 penalty for each month of a delinquent
license or rental unit registrations after October 31, 2010.

Tenant Agreements
All landlords must use a Crime Free Lease Addendum/Agreement with tenants. This addendum must be incorporated into all new and renewal leases and made available for review during the compliance inspection by City inspectors. The addendum is available on the City’s Web site at www.Cedar-Rapids.org and at
the Code Enforcement Division’s office in the Public Works building at 1201 6Th
Street SW.

All aspects of the new program are expected to be implemented by October 2010. For more information about this program, please visit the Housing Inspections section of the City’s Web site at http://www.cedar-rapids.org/government/departments/code-enforcement/housing-inspections/Pages/default.aspx.

PR Date: 8/23/2010 Title: City’s New Landlord Licensing Program
in Effect
City Contact: Cassie Wilils, (319) 286-5055

Tommy Tucker Realty Co. provides property management services in the Linn County area to various clients. We can assist in Tenant-Landlord management services, if you are seeking a Realtor-Property Manager for your single family house or investment property. Please feel free to contact Tommy Tucker Realty Co. to discuss our services in more detail. Tommy Tucker Realty Co. has been serving the greater Cedar Rapids area, since 1958.

ttrco