Pubdate: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 Source: Herald-Sun, The (Durham, NC) Copyright: 2005 The Herald-Sun Contact: http://www.herald-sun.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1428 CRIME-FIGHTING LANDLORDS Occasionally local government does something that makes so much sense we are left wondering why no one thought to do it sooner. A city-sponsored seminar to help landlords and property managers keep drug and gang activity out of their rental properties falls into that category. Hosted by the city's departments of Human Relations, Housing and Community Development and the Police Department, the one-day training session scheduled for Thursday is seen by city officials as another useful tool in the ongoing fight against crime. Often landlords and property managers have few clues they have rented to someone who is in a gang or involved in drug dealing until it's too late. And the bad ones don't care if they do. Ideally, the seminar would help responsible landlords and property managers identify situations that might suggest a rental candidate is involved in a gang, criminal activities or both. They should also be encouraged to perform criminal background checks and to carefully check references before renting property. We're not suggesting that landlords refuse to rent to people with a criminal record, because ex-offenders who are earnestly working to make a change deserve a second chance. But rental property owners should be considerate enough of the neighbors to go the extra mile to make sure such a person has given up the life of crime. The reasons a landlord can deny renting to someone are tricky because of strict non-discrimination laws. Usually if a person has good credit and a good rental history, it's hard to turn them down. That's why the city is wise to include a session on fair housing and housing code enforcement so landlords and property managers will know the boundaries. But law-abiding citizens in some of Durham's poorer neighborhoods are keenly aware of the chaos caused by just one house filled with gang members, or one where drug dealing is taking place. No one should be forced to live under such dangerous and oppressive conditions. City Manager Patrick Baker suggests that landlords include a provision in the lease that would allow them to terminate a tenant found to be selling drugs out of a residence. That's a good idea that all landlords should consider appropriating. It has long been held that law enforcement cannot solve Durham's crime problem alone. It will take an entire community coming together to send an unwavering message to criminals and gangs. The city's landlords and property managers can help deliver that message by closely scrutinizing prospective tenants. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom