New act to deal with bad tenants Gordon Kentedmontonjournal.com
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
EDMONTON - A provincial act taking effect this fall should make it easier to force landlords to deal with trouble-making tenants, Edmonton development compliance manager Mark Garrett said today.
The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act will set up an investigative group within the Alberta sheriff`s office to investigate public complaints about derelict drug and prostitution houses and shut them down if necessary, says a city report.
Using civil courts rather than the more cumbersome criminal process, the law also allows judges to compel owners to control bad behaviour on their property.
"The sheriff`s office will be able to say to the property owner `you`re responsible for the activity happening on that property. Stop it or we will come and change the locks on the door.` "
Edmonton has several programs to manage deteriorating buildings, including the derelict housing unit, the minimum maintenance rules of the new community standards bylaw and the Stop Marijuana Grow Op committee.
Factors such as limited staff and funding along with competing priorities limit the amount of enforcement that`s possible, the report says.
While Coun. Dave Thiele said the situation is improving, he feels people still need to take an interest in their community.
"Public awareness goes hand-in-hand with that pride of being part of the city."
[email protected]
© Edmonton Journal 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
EDMONTON - A provincial act taking effect this fall should make it easier to force landlords to deal with trouble-making tenants, Edmonton development compliance manager Mark Garrett said today.
The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act will set up an investigative group within the Alberta sheriff`s office to investigate public complaints about derelict drug and prostitution houses and shut them down if necessary, says a city report.
Using civil courts rather than the more cumbersome criminal process, the law also allows judges to compel owners to control bad behaviour on their property.
"The sheriff`s office will be able to say to the property owner `you`re responsible for the activity happening on that property. Stop it or we will come and change the locks on the door.` "
Edmonton has several programs to manage deteriorating buildings, including the derelict housing unit, the minimum maintenance rules of the new community standards bylaw and the Stop Marijuana Grow Op committee.
Factors such as limited staff and funding along with competing priorities limit the amount of enforcement that`s possible, the report says.
While Coun. Dave Thiele said the situation is improving, he feels people still need to take an interest in their community.
"Public awareness goes hand-in-hand with that pride of being part of the city."
[email protected]
© Edmonton Journal 2008
