EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - Evansville landlords whose properties are cited by police for nuisance activities would have 72 hours to resolve the issue or be ordered to evict the tenants under a proposed “Good Neighbor Ordinance” before the city council.
The ordinance is aimed at pushing landlords to rid themselves of tenants who show patterns of criminal or nuisance behavior. It also could cover situations such as noise, abandoned appliances, open burning or use of fireworks, the Evansville Courier & Press reported (https://bit.ly/1v4QpYg ).
Council members, who overwhelmingly support the measure, said its purpose is to assist law-abiding renters.
“Forty-three percent of the people in Evansville rent property,” said Republican Councilman Dan McGinn. “A very small percentage of those tenants regularly engage in illegal activities, and it really does cause some serious problems for their neighbors. It destroys the peace and quiet, it devalues property, creates a constant need for police protection.”
City landlords and community officers with the Evansville Police Department helped craft the ordinance, which has been introduced for first reading but isn’t likely to face a final vote until June.
The measure allows police to initiate a complaint of nuisance activity in a rental property for misdemeanor offenses including theft, intimidation, disorderly conduct, public indecency, underage drinking, marijuana possession, illegal gambling, voyeurism and vandalism.
In addition to resolving the issue within 72 hours, landlords must submit paperwork to the police department explaining what actions were taken to address the situation.
If those steps aren’t taken, police will issue a notice to evict the offending tenant, the ordinance states.
An automatic eviction notice would be issued in cases involving more serious suspected criminal acts such as sexual assault and illegal drug sales.
McGinn said the ordinance can help guide landlords as they craft leases.
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Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, https://www.courierpress.com
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