City of Gainesville - File #: 160226.

• File #: 160226.
• Version: 2
• Name: Items of Landlord Permitting in the Future
• Type: Discussion Item
• Status: Pending In Committee
• File created: 7/22/2016
• In control: General Policy Committee
• On agenda: 11/10/2016
• Final action: 3/9/2017
• Title: Landlord Permits (B) This is a request for the General Policy Committee to consider a landlord permit fee waiver for affordable rental units.

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
7/21/2016	1	City Commission	Referred	Pass

Title

Landlord Permits (B)

This is a request for the General Policy Committee to consider a landlord permit fee waiver for affordable rental units.

Explanation

As part of the City Commission’s Landlord Permit referral that originated with the Community Development Committee, the City Commission referred to the General Policy Committee the idea of providing a permit fee waiver to property owners who provide affordable housing by accepting rental subsidies from their tenants. Staff will present a recommendation to implement a landlord permit fee waiver for property owners that provide proof that their tenants' rent is fully or partially subsidized by a local, state, or federal housing assistance program. Ordinance language can be drafted to include the HUD Housing Choice Voucher program and the HUD Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program (VASH), as well as other local, state, or federal programs. At this time data is unavailable to determine the actual fiscal impact of a fee waiver. Staff attempted to gain information from the Gainesville Housing Authority regarding the number of HUD Housing Choice and VASH vouchers were being used for rental properties that would also require a landlord permit but the data was not available. The General Policy Committee may want to consider either a one year pilot program or direct staff to gather data from applicants during the next landlord permit cycle to determine the fiscal impact to the City’s General Fund. 

Fiscal Impact

The fiscal impact is unknown and will depend on the number of landlord permit holders that qualify for the fee waiver.

Recommendation

The General Policy Committee receive staff’s recommendation and provide direction to staff.