The Neighborhood improvement Task Force agreed Monday with some minor changes in the city’s Tenant and Landlord Handbook.
Most of the changes deal with providing contact information missing from the original handbook.
The updated handbook, described by planner Aaron Arnett as a “user-friendly document,” outlines what’s expected of landlords and tenants through state and city housing laws.
It covers rental rules pertaining to things such as leases, deposits and fees, property inspections, maintenance and repairs, eviction, court remedies, housing codes, fair housing laws, moving in and moving out.
The 31-page handbook’s new introduction says the booklet serves as a tool for landlords and tenants — a guide to recommended practices and a quick reference to applicable state and local laws related to housing.
The easy-to-read handbook paraphrases state statutes, the Fair Housing Law and the City Code.
The new contact information follows the brief introduction. It includes almost 20 telephone numbers that renters and landlords sometimes have to call.
The handbook gives numbers for Crime Stoppers, community developmet, Salisbury Housing Authority, the Board of Realtors, legal assistance, the N.C. Lawyer Referral Service, the Employment Security Commission, magistrates, Animal Control, Parks and Recreation, the Better Business Bureau and city buses. It also tells how to report public nuisances, find out minimum housing rules and arrange for garbage collection. Fire and police numbers also are included.
Arnett said he has been surprised at the interest in the handbook, particularly from landlords, since the task force discussed the document at its January meeting. He estimated that he has received 15 to 20 calls from landlords asking for copies of the handbook.
Task force members continue to ask themselves the best way to make the handbook available to the public. At present, Arnett’s office (City Hall) and minimum housing inspectors (Salisbury Fire Department) have copies.
In another matter, the task force agreed to ask Salisbury City Council to amend the City Code to give Salisbury more power in demolishing and removing abandoned structures.
Arnett noted that the state recently amended a statute so that cities as small as Salisbury could issue orders requiring the demolition of abandoned structures if they are determined to be dilapidated without prospects for repair.
Previously, the council — at the task force’s recommendation — had reworded the City Code to allow the city to be more aggressive in addressing abandoned dwellings, but this new state law is designed to broaden the city’s authority.
If a dilapidated dwelling has been closed for a period of a year after the city issues an order for its repair, and the owner has abandoned the intent to fix the structure, the city can move quickly to correct the situation:
- If repairs can be made that won’t exceed 50 percent of the value of the dwelling, the owner is given 90 days to repair or demolish the dwelling.
- If repairs would exceed 50 percent of the value of the dwelling, the city would give the owner 90 days to demolish and remove the structure.
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