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Milford suggests statewide bill on landlord penalties
By Paul Crocetti May 8, 2008 ... A proposed bill that would penalize landlords of illegal apartments and help their displaced tenants is on its way to the desks of local legislators. Landlords of illegal apartments would be made to pay relocation costs for tenants who have to move out, a payment of up to six months rent for each tenant and a fine of between $500 and $2,000, according to the proposal drafted by Public Health Director Paul Mazzuchelli. The Board of Health on Monday voted to pass the draft, which will now be taken up by local legislators to submit as a bill to the Legislature. Mazzuchelli cited recently discovered overcrowded apartments as examples of why the legislation is necessary. About five tenants from both 10 Cherry St. and 29 Pleasant St. had to relocate after inspectors found illegal apartments there. After encountering similar situations, Mazzuchelli said he felt the need for statewide legislation. "Overcrowding and illegal conversions are not unique to Milford," he said. The penalties would take away the incentive of additional rent money and discourage landlords from having illegally overcrowded apartments, Mazzuchelli said. "It's usually the tenant that's the victim, that has to (bear) the hardship," Mazzuchelli said. "If the penalty isn't too severe, (landlords) are going to keep doing it." As it stands now, landlords can be fined up to $300 per day for a zoning violation, but prosecution can be difficult, Town Counsel Gerald Moody said. "The concept to provide an extra level of penalties is a good concept," Moody said. "It can go a long way to discouraging this illegal activity. Anything that serves that purpose is good." The proposal would likely stretch beyond municipal government bounds and would take implementation by the state Legislature, Moody said. Mazzuchelli has discussed it with state Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, and state Rep. John Fernandes, D-Milford. "Anything that's going to help further the discussion of not overburdening housing units in town is something that I will take very seriously," said Fernandes, who wanted to get a look at the proposal before commenting specifically on it. Mazzuchelli stressed to Moore his primary concern of the relocation costs. Making landlords pay for displaced tenants to move would be a good penalty, Moore said, adding that he wants to run the ideas for specific fines by the legal department. "If (landlords) had been taking money, allowing someone to utilize the property improperly, certainly they should share a major part of the (moving) expense," Moore said. The legislation will likely have to wait until the 2009 term, Moore said. A public hearing would be the time for any concerns, such as those from landlord groups, to come up, he said. Full story available at the Milford Daily News. |
