L
ocal real estate agents met with Meridian's City Council to discuss a proposed rental property ordinance aimed at addressing poorly maintained properties. Under the ordinance, rental property owners would be required to register their properties and provide contact information for code enforcement purposes. Community Development Director Craig Hitt stated that the city lacks current data on rental properties and owner contacts, making it difficult to address issues such as an apartment complex without running water for over a month or raw sewage backing up into streets.

    Hitt emphasized that the ordinance is not intended to target well-maintained rentals but rather help address uninhabitable properties. He noted that using existing enforcement powers can take at least two months, and having owner contact information would significantly reduce response time. City Attorney Will Simmons stated that if a property is deemed uninhabitable and no corrections are made, the city could shut it down.

    Local real estate agents expressed concerns about the ordinance's potential impact on Meridian's rental market. Malcom Martin, president of East Mississippi REALTORS, said his organization needs more time to study the proposed law and its effects on property owners. Steve Corey raised questions about the types of violations that would result in a property being closed and the appeals process.

    The real estate agents also warned that if the ordinance is too restrictive, some rental property owners may sell their properties, leading to a shortage of available rentals and increased costs for residents. Terry Winstead noted that any additional costs imposed on rental property owners will likely be passed on to tenants in the form of rent increases. The East Mississippi REALTORS organization requested several months to fully analyze the ordinance and provide feedback to help refine it if necessary.