Ordinarily I'd be content to just let today's Times article (and reader comments) on the new rental ordinance enacted by Munster to be archived by the publication. But the Times suddenly pulled the article from its online site. Very weird. Anyway, people have got to take look at this one from 2009, which was likely tabled for some time and from reasonable indicia in the press, finally enacted.
I supply excerpts from it:
ORDINANCE NO. 1403 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF MUNSTER, INDIANA, REGULATING RENTAL DWELLINGS AND DWELLING UNITS
WHEREAS:
1)*** 2)*** 3)*** 4)*** 5)***
"6) It is in the interests of the Town to require that owners who rent a dwelling or dwelling unit have the right to exercise their discretion to terminate a lease where the tenant, or those for whom he is responsible, threatens the health or safety of other residents, or is a threat to other residents or the neighborhood in which the tenant resides."
Threatens? How? In what manner; directly, indirectly, or over a certain period of time; a threat to property that affects safety? Wha?...
And I'm curious, how much discretion is there if one is "required" to exercise it? Even worse, doesn't this mandatory discretion render the contract illusory? What has the owner promised if he/she can arbitrarily evict a tenant?Go figure...
Further:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED AND ADOPTED by the Town Council of the Town of Munster, Indiana, as follows:
101. Rental permit required
Every owner of residential property within the Town renting or intending to rent a dwelling or dwelling unit shall apply for and secure a rental permit or conditional rental permit.
No owner of residential real property located within the Town shall rent to or continue to rent to a tenant any dwelling or dwelling unit within the real property for any form of consideration, on or after January 1, 2009 unless he, she or it holds a valid rental permit or conditional rental permit issued by the Building and Community Development Department (“Building Inspectorâ€) of the Town, or its designee, issued in the name of the owner and for the specific dwelling or dwelling unit for rent.
102. Application for rental permit required
This ordinance shall apply to those rental dwellings and dwelling units for which there is a written lease, installment land contract, articles of agreement for purchase, month to month tenancies, and any and all agreements, written or oral, where the possession of said real property or a part of it is divested from the owner of record.
103. Exceptions for requirements
This ordinance shall not apply to a single-family owner occupied unit, dwelling units in hotels or motels, accommodations in hospitals, not for profit shelters and school dormitories, and units in cooperatives occupied by holders of proprietary leases.
**** 108. Duration of permit and Inspection
(A) A rental permit shall be valid for a period of three years.
****
115. Criminal Activity
Each lease between the owner, or his representative, and the tenant shall contain a provision or addendum to lease which provides, in substance:
The Owner shall have the discretion to terminate this lease, instantly, when the tenant, or member of his household, or a guest or other person under the tenant’s control, is or has been engaging in criminal activity, including but not limited to illegal drug related activity, on or off the leased premises, and whether or not the tenant knew or should have known, about this criminal activity.
*****
So like, what kind of criminal activity are we talking about? Felonies? Misdemeanors? And whether or not the tenant knew or should have known - who and how exactly are these identified and enforced?
Does Munster now claim the authority to dictate criminal behavior as well as the power to define the terms of lease agreements and when they can be terminated? In addition, it sounds like Munster is now in privity of each lease contract.
As a new party-in-interest, I suspect they will also be on the hook to tenants deprived of their rights under this ordinance or one similar to it.
Da, Komrades! This gives new meaning to the term "police powers" for a subdivision of the State.
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