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In April of this year, City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde discussed the landlord notification system that was going to be put into effect this year at our member luncheon. BARHA had been advocating for this notification of tickets/calls to service on rental properties which will allow us to identify problems as they arise. The tool is being launched today. You may have received an email from rental licensing. Details about the system from the email are below.
The City of Boulder has launched two new tools – a rental property notification system and atenant resource guide – designed to encourage better communication and problem-solving between landlords and renters. The notification system sharescalls for service dataand aims to bring transparency and awareness to certain types of calls for service at rental properties. The goal of the tool is to help you identify if an ongoing issue is present so you can work with your tenants to find a solution through conversation and problem-solving.
Feedback from theBoulder Area Rental Housing Associationsuggests that a lack of awareness about calls for service can make it difficult for rental property owners and managers tobe proactive in helping their tenants thrive.This new tool will provide the necessary knowledge to help landlords and tenants prevent patterns of nuisance behaviors.
The tool will share public calls for service data directly with the email on file for rental license holders. This means that registered property owners, applicants and agents (through rental license applications with the City of Boulder) will receive anemail notificationfor certain calls for service to their property. These notifications willNOTinclude critical calls for service like medical or domestic violence-related calls, as the city wants to ensure that no one is discouraged from making any calls relating to life/safety. A call for service is when someone calls 9-1-1 or the non-emergency dispatch line to report an issue or request assistance.
Here are some items to note about the tool:
- The tool uses base addresses for data-sharing. This means that property owners of addresses attached to units in multi-family developments will be notified when there is a call for service to any unit within the development. Unit numbers will be included in the notification if they are available. Under many circumstances, callers do not know the unit number or provide inaccurate unit information when the call is placed to dispatch.
- Notifications will NOT include medical calls, as well as sex crimes, child abuse or domestic violence-related calls, as the city does not want to discourage individuals from seeking assistance for sensitive or legally protected issues.
- Notifications will NOT include services from Code Enforcement or Code Compliance generated through direct calls or Inquire Boulder. It is possible that later phases of development could include those.
- While the city has committed to sending a notification each time an eligible call comes in, we encourage landlords and property owners to look for patterns of concern as opposed to isolated incidents.
- This notification does NOT imply guilt, responsibility, or legal action. It only means there was a call for service to the address, which could occur for a variety of reasons.
- This tool will go into effect on July 17, 2023, and will not have an opt-out function. The city does not maintain, modify or collect information from the system.
The following is a link to a tenant resource guide:Who to Call When You Need Housing Help. This guide outlines who tenants should contact when they need housing help. As part of this program, the city asks you to print this flyer and distribute it to your tenants and/or display it in a prominent community space within your property.
Learn more about the rental property notification system and tenant resource guide on thecity’s website. For landlord, tenant and roommate resources and information, visit:Landlord, Tenant and Roommate Resources.
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