Othello considers rental licensing ordinance

OTHELLO — The city of Othello is considering a new ordinance creating a new inspection and licensing program for all rental units in the city.

Speaking at an online meeting Monday evening, Community Development Director Anne Henning said the purpose of the program would be to ensure everyone who rents in Othello has “acceptable housing.”

“State law allows us to set up a licensing and inspection program for rental housing,” Henning told council members. “This is a well-tested way to do this.”

Under the proposed ordinance, Henning said any certified inspector, public or private, would be allowed to inspect rental units to ensure that they meet state safety, accessibility and livability guidelines.

Henning said she modeled the proposal after Bellingham’s ordinance, and included a five-page inspection checklist covering everything from proper display of the address outside to working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and properly working heating and plumbing.

“You would not be allowed to rent a unit unless you were licensed,” Henning said. “It would apply to any rental unit, including rooms within an existing dwelling. We made it as broad as possible.”

Council members were broadly supportive of the proposal, but were concerned needing to inspect and certify several hundred rental units every three years would put an undue burden on city building inspectors.

“I think it’s good, and it needs to be done, but are we going to need to hire another person to do this? We don’t have the staff to do this,” asked Council Member Corey Everett.

Henning said the city can inspect a unit once every three years, and no more than that, and inspections can be less frequent if it turns out to be a strain on the city.

“We’re not intending to hire additional inspectors,” Henning replied.

City inspectors would also not charge a fee, while private inspectors authorized under state law would, Henning said, which left several council members to wonder why a landlord would hire anyone else.

“Putting the burden on the city for the majority of inspections, who’s going to hire anybody if you can get it for free? Why would we not charge an equivalent fee?” asked Council Member Genna Dorow.

Council Member Jon Erickson said it appeared to him one of the purposes of the ordinance might be to help the city deal with accessory dwelling units — so-called “mother-in-law” apartments — as both the council and the planning commission work on making them legal.

“It will help us not to get into a situation where we are discussing grandfathering dozens if not hundreds of poorly built rentals,” added Police Chief Phil Schenck. “If the ordinance provides a service, the benefit is that we don’t have a whole lot of junk places where people are living.”