Lansford Borough Council is focusing on issues with residential rentals, licenses, inspections and short-term rentals.

The number of rental units has nearly tripled in the past four years, zoning officer Jim Dean said Tuesday.

In 2019, there were 250 rental units on the books, and today, there are more than 700, he said.

Dean pointed out some issues, such as people believing they’re exempt from a rental license, because they are in a rent-to-own agreement, he said.

Another issue is owners who fail to notify the borough when a rental property is sold, Dean said.

“I can’t remember when that has happened, where the owner has notified us that they’ve sold,” he said. “Doesn’t happen.”

Also, existing rental licenses aren’t transferable and an inspection should be done when a rental property is sold, Dean said.

“I think that needs to be put in there,” he said, offering suggestions for council to consider when looking at the rules for rentals, inspections and changes in code and property maintenance.

Former councilman and code officer Joe Genits said Dean’s suggestions are good and they may also want to look at Pottsville’s ordinances regarding selling a property, which requires a permit, and the residential rental code.

Lansford continues to operate under ordinances from 2007, which Genits called a dinosaur. He said he has looked at several ordinances from other communities, and the two from Pottsville are excellent, he said.

Genits said Pottsville has few problems with properties being transferred, as its four-page ordinance is simple and effective.

Dean also pointed out that many people want to do short-term rentals, where people rent for a weekend or a week.

“You can’t believe how many people want to do it here in town,” he said, noting that he denied one application.

Dean also suggested that council look at changing when the rental license fee is due. Now, notices go out in February and must be paid by April 1, or late fees get added, he said.

He suggested sending out invoices in September or October, which are due by Dec. 31, for the next year’s license. If the license fee is not paid on time, the fine should be equal to the license fee of $100, Dean said.

Then, if the fee is not paid, the tax claim bureau should be notified and that property owner be placed on the “do not sell” list,” meaning they could not buy property at a judicial sale or sheriff sale, he suggested.

Dean also suggested the housing authority provide the borough copies of its inspections. The borough already allows the housing authority to do its own inspection and accepts them, but doesn’t have a copy for its records, he said.

Another issue, Dean said, was that property owners and managers are supposed to give the borough a list of tenants when they pay their rental license.

“They’re supposed to do it every time, and they don’t do it,” he said.

Councilwoman Jennifer Staines said the state Supreme Court upheld a short-term rental ordinance and council should be reviewing that language.

Short-term rentals can be done well, Dean said, and there is one in town associated with St. Luke’s Hospital in Coaldale. But in general, parking could be an issue in residential areas where parking is already tight, he said.

Dean suggested allowing short-term rentals, which are generally operated on weekends, in the central business district where there are fewer people parking on weekends. Councilman Bill Chuma said that doesn’t hold true on weekends.

Some communities have had problems with short-term rentals, such as parking and occupancy, Dean said, and maybe council would consider requiring off-street parking for short-term rental units.

Genits suggested council take a look at what other communities are doing and review their ordinances on short-term rentals. Then, they can take the language that works and not have to start from scratch, he said.