Comments on: Minneapolis Rental Licensing is Looking For You http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/ How to find, buy, and own Minnesota investment property. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:04:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Dixon http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-714 Dixon Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:36:56 +0000 http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-714 They require all kinds of improvements and changes. Your property cannot score more than 25 points for a single family and if it does it is considered "sub-standard." There is an extensive list of things they can require you to do from simple painting to inspection items as vague as "repair public area" or "Room too small." There are different point thresholds for differing numbers of units. We already have an attorney looking into this to see if there is a claim for property owners to be able to dispute the license "conversion fee" as they call it of $1000. The other licensing requirements have been in place since December 1st, 2004 so I am not as optimistic that there will be anything a person can do in order to fight those. If there was a case for a suit then we would be looking to identify people that could kick into a pool so that we could spread legal costs out. It would require a couple hundred people at $100 to $200 a crack I would imagine to really take them to task on the issue. They require all kinds of improvements and changes. Your property cannot score more than 25 points for a single family and if it does it is considered “sub-standard.” There is an extensive list of things they can require you to do from simple painting to inspection items as vague as “repair public area” or “Room too small.” There are different point thresholds for differing numbers of units. We already have an attorney looking into this to see if there is a claim for property owners to be able to dispute the license “conversion fee” as they call it of $1000. The other licensing requirements have been in place since December 1st, 2004 so I am not as optimistic that there will be anything a person can do in order to fight those. If there was a case for a suit then we would be looking to identify people that could kick into a pool so that we could spread legal costs out. It would require a couple hundred people at $100 to $200 a crack I would imagine to really take them to task on the issue.

]]> By: KJ http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-703 KJ Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:31:45 +0000 http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-703 The city just sent me a letter about this. As you stated, they are charging a $1000 inspection fee as well as a $250 administrative fee. However, they also gave me a citation for renting without a license. The citation is an additional $500. All in all, I'll be paying $1815 to convert my single family home to a rental. Do you know if the inspectors typically also require a lot of changes to the property? I'd be interested in working to get the city to lower this fee. The city just sent me a letter about this. As you stated, they are charging a $1000 inspection fee as well as a $250 administrative fee. However, they also gave me a citation for renting without a license. The citation is an additional $500.

All in all, I’ll be paying $1815 to convert my single family home to a rental.

Do you know if the inspectors typically also require a lot of changes to the property?

I’d be interested in working to get the city to lower this fee.

]]> By: Dean http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-689 Dean Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:44:00 +0000 http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-689 Allan, I'm in. I tried to fight that $1000 extortion through reason but there is no reasoning with people that just don't care. How may I help? Allan, I’m in. I tried to fight that $1000 extortion through reason but there is no reasoning with people that just don’t care. How may I help?

]]> By: John Doe Landlord http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-687 John Doe Landlord Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:23:14 +0000 http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-687 I am in. 100%. Anyone else? E-mail this discusson forum around and lets see how many people we can get! I am in. 100%. Anyone else? E-mail this discusson forum around and lets see how many people we can get!

]]> By: admin http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-626 admin Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:38:02 +0000 http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-626 Alan Williams » Interesting proposal. Let's see if anyone get's on the bandwagon. Alan Williams »
Interesting proposal. Let’s see if anyone get’s on the bandwagon.

]]> By: Alan Williams http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-625 Alan Williams Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:22:17 +0000 http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-625 Actually, I believe that the court system would define this amount as unconscionable. It simply would take a $60 fee to bring a small claims court action against the city of Minneapolis. I called Doris Lane And asked about the $1000 charge. She could not tell me what service I got for the money. She said it would take a day to inspect with 3 inspections. I reminded her that an inspection is already performed by the county for hazardous items. She said that was a different inspection. In my opinion, it's looking like discrimination. For renters, one requires a certain set of rules, and for homeowners, a different set of rules. If anyone would like to band together against this, I would gladly setup documentation and take the city to task in small claims court for a ruling. Hopefully we can get enough landlords to bring the cost down to $10 each, and cause the city to spend thousands of dollars with lawyers. I have fought against the experts before and won. I believe I can do it again. Actually, I believe that the court system would define this amount as unconscionable. It simply would take a $60 fee to bring a small claims court action against the city of Minneapolis.

I called Doris Lane
And asked about the $1000 charge. She could not tell me what service I got for the money. She said it would take a day to inspect with 3 inspections. I reminded her that an inspection is already performed by the county for hazardous items. She said that was a different inspection.
In my opinion, it’s looking like discrimination. For renters, one requires a certain set of rules, and for homeowners, a different set of rules.

If anyone would like to band together against this, I would gladly setup documentation and take the city to task in small claims court for a ruling.

Hopefully we can get enough landlords to bring the cost down to $10 each, and cause the city to spend thousands of dollars with lawyers.

I have fought against the experts before and won.

I believe I can do it again.

]]> By: admin http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-575 admin Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:52:47 +0000 http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-575 Dave » There is really no way around it. You can certainly try to rent your property without a license. I am sure lots of people do it. Unfortunately, the City of Minneapolis added 2 staff people to watch Craigs List, Star Tribune, and drive around looking for "For Rent" signs and then check to insure that property has a rental license. If it does not, you get fined $250 plus $1000 plus the cost of the license ($65 per unit). If they really get upset, they could not give you a license and therefore you are stuck with an empty property (I have a customer that had a 6 month suspension of his license imposed on him). Dave »
There is really no way around it. You can certainly try to rent your property without a license. I am sure lots of people do it.

Unfortunately, the City of Minneapolis added 2 staff people to watch Craigs List, Star Tribune, and drive around looking for “For Rent” signs and then check to insure that property has a rental license. If it does not, you get fined $250 plus $1000 plus the cost of the license ($65 per unit). If they really get upset, they could not give you a license and therefore you are stuck with an empty property (I have a customer that had a 6 month suspension of his license imposed on him).

]]> By: Dave http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-573 Dave Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:31:52 +0000 http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-573 is there any way to get around the ouragous $1000 license fee they charge. How do they enforce this. Thanks is there any way to get around the ouragous $1000 license fee they charge. How do they enforce this. Thanks

]]> By: Rental Ron http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-493 Rental Ron Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:00:16 +0000 http://www.minnesotainvestmentrealestate.com/minneapolis/minneapolis-rental-licensing-is-looking-for-you/#comment-493 I didn't know they were doing this now, thanks for the post update. That's smart of them to look on that website. One thing I will tell you is whenever you have to pay your annual rental license fee, if it's late and not paid on time, I know one city for sure will charge you double the annual fee for each property. It's probably a good thing that they do require a license, hopefully landlords out there keep the places up and take land lording serious, it's a business just like anything else. I didn’t know they were doing this now, thanks for the post update. That’s smart of them to look on that website. One thing I will tell you is whenever you have to pay your annual rental license fee, if it’s late and not paid on time, I know one city for sure will charge you double the annual fee for each property.

It’s probably a good thing that they do require a license, hopefully landlords out there keep the places up and take land lording serious, it’s a business just like anything else.

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