Wednesday, 19 January 2011

City Hall proposes new regulations for rental properties


via CAAI

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 15:02 Mom Kunthear

City Hall has published a list of proposed measures to tighten the regulation of rental properties in the capital, in a bid to reduce crime, drug use and prostitution.

The measures, published on the municipality’s website, were drafted following a meeting on Friday with commune officials and police and military police representatives, and is set to be forwarded on to Governor Kep Chuktema for approval.

The measures, the website states, would help “strengthen the local security and timely prevention [of] all kinds of crimes” which often occur at rental properties.

“[T]he Capital Hall has noticed some complications … of the management of rented houses, thus some opportunists can commit some crimes such as prostitution, drugs using and gambling... etc which leads to harmful robbery or banditry,” the website states.

The proposed measures include mechanisms for people to register businesses operated out of rented homes and a requirement that landlords who do not live nearby their properties appoint a proxy to liaise with local officials.

Guests would also be required to provide identification before being allowed to rent properties, though the website does not clarify who those documents would need to be shown to.

If the measures are approved, rental properties “will be shut down” for failing to comply with the new rules, the website warns.

City Hall estimates that there are between 20,000 and 40,000 houses currently being rented in the capital.

Municipal officials could not be reached yesterday. But Suth Chaknara, deputy governor of Tuol Kork district, said yesterday that city authorities had decided to take action on rental properties after more localised attempts to tighten regulations had failed due to a lack of management.

“It is not only my district taking action over the rental houses, but all districts are paying attention to control this thing,” she said.

Property owner Ung Kit welcomed the new measures yesterday, saying that careful administration of rental properties is the key to ensuring they remain trouble-free.

“Before I rent my house to the tenants I have to know about them, such as where they work and how many people they will live with, and ask for photos and identity cards in order to report to the local authority,” he said.

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