Agenda Item
ORDINANCE 12-2021 - AN ORDINANCE to take effect immediately provided it receives the vote of at least two thirds of the members of Council, or otherwise to take effect at the earliest period allowed by law, to expand rental rights within the City of Lakewood allowing renters who tender their full rent plus any additional late fees and court costs, prior to an eviction hearing to avoid eviction for late payment of rent and setting reasonable late fees that a landlord may charge a tenant. (1st read and referred to HPD 2/16/21)
I oppose this Ordinance as it will put an undue hardship on landlords. The Center for Disease Control issued an eviction moratorium that was just deemed unconstitutional by a Federal judge. If passed, this Ordinance would likely be overturned as being unconstitutional also.
Allowing tenants to avoid paying their rents for a prolonged period is unfair to landlords in the extreme. With current covid effects in the court system it could be months and months before a judgement is made in an eviction case. Allowing a tenant to avoid payment of rent until just before the judgement and then the landlord having no legal grounds to remove a tenant for non-payment according to the lease agreement.
I oppose this ordinance, thank you
Charlie E Hargrave