Rental Properties Registration

By requiring landlords or owners to register with the City, the Kansas City codes inspectors will have an easier time locating out of town owners or LLC partners who will be responsible for deteriorating rental homes in Kansas City. It is a common real estate tactic for landlords to move the rental properties into their LLC name to avoid having to be liable for deteriorating rental properties and responsible for any problems.

Unlike many cities that charge landlords or owners for licensing and registering rental properties, Kansas City is doing away with registration fees.

What happens to out of state owners with rental property violations?

With the registration requirement, out of state owners will not longer hide from being liable. If their rental properties have violated any city codes, they will be issued administrative citations and fines. These fines will accrue rapidly if not paid and eventually a lien on the rental property will be place which is very costly.

How does the registration requirement affect sale of rental properties?

When there is a sale of a rental property, the selling owner of the rental property must notify the city of the buyer's name and address within 30 days of closing. The new owner of the rental property then have to apply for the new rental property registration.

Rental property inspections

With the new ordinance, there will be more rental property inspections in Kansas City including inspections of owner occupied properties in targeted neighborhoods. Property inspectors will check for exterior nuisance as well as property code violations. While there is no inspection fee, penalties and fines will be assessed for any violations. Vacant rental properties will receive interior inspections.

The inspections start in the next fiscal year from May 1 onward.