Tougher Rules for Nuisance Properties

Nov 20, 2023

Cleveland is toughening up its policies to tackle nuisance properties and protect renters from unresponsive landlords.

Under Cleveland’s current authority, the city can only board up and demolish unsafe properties declared public nuisances. But at a recent meeting, Council approved legislation to empower the city to make certain repairs to those nuisance properties.

The new policy will give the city authority to pull from its demolition budget to hire contractors to fix a broken elevator in a senior housing building or repair an apartment’s boiler during the winter if the owner does not do so.

Council has called on the administration to crack down on negligent landlords, particularly those that live out of state.

The city will bill the property owner for the repairs. If they don’t pay, the bill will be tacked onto their property taxes. Ord. No. 1022-2023.

In a given year, the city typically demolishes about 500 to 700 structures. Much of the $4 million demolition budget is grant-funded.

The nuisance property is part of a slate of legislation that Council is considering. Other changes Council is considering is toughening the rental registry and create a separate registration mandate for vacant structures – including commercial and industrial properties.