Joliet-area REALTORS® persuaded the Joliet City Council against expanding its property licensure-inspection program to include single-family rental homes.

In early August, REALTORS® and landlords testified before the city council in opposition to the proposal, citing low numbers of code violations with single-family rental homes. Council members seemed to agree with REALTORS® who argued that the city should focus on code violators rather than requiring all owners of rental homes to participate in a costly program that involves inspections.

“When we pointed out that approximately 2 percent of all police calls and calls regarding possible building code violations came from renters in single-family homes – as opposed to owner-occupied homes – they came around to our point of view,” said Illinois REALTORS® local Governmental Affairs Director Jon Scholtes, who serves the Three Rivers Association of REALTORS®, the REALTOR® Association of the Fox Valley and the Illini Valley Association of REALTORS®.

But work is not done on the issue, says Scholtes. Some city council members expressed concern that some renters are not aware of their ability to make a complaint to the city. Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk directed REALTORS®, landlords and community groups to recommend alternative approaches.