Aside from the fact that everything Toledo Mayor Jack Ford does between now and November is calculated to help him win re-election, he has come up with a reasonable idea for improving housing stock in the city.
And aside from the fact that everything council member Rob Ludeman says to attack the mayor is calculated to help him defeat Mr. Ford, the challenger has picked the wrong fight this time.
The Ford administration's proposed "point-of-sale" law to foil less than honorable property owners who peddle poorly maintained houses to unsuspecting buyers is hard to fault. It would basically require a "non-occupying" seller of property - somebody who hasn't lived on it for the previous six months - to certify that it is up to code before transferring the property's title.
Because there are not enough city building inspectors to systematically catch all the shortcuts some absentee owners employ to mask property deficiencies before a sale, the proposed legislation would put some of the responsibility for passing home inspections on property sellers and buyers.
They would have to ensure compliance with city building codes with proof of satisfactory inspections conducted by either city inspectors or privately licensed professionals authorized by the city. In lieu of a pre-sale inspection, the seller could seek a temporary exception providing there is an agreement to fix any violations subsequently discovered with funds specifically set aside to cover them.
Buyers and sellers anxious to avoid any delays in their transactions could also agree in writing to fix any violations found post-sale within six months.The point is to eliminate surprises after the sale that no one feels obligated to address. The goal is to reduce the quantity of substandard housing in the city. Who can argue with that?
Apparently a mayoral candidate and licensed Realtor for one. Mr. Ludeman promises to fight the measure he calls cumbersome to business and harmful to the local real estate market. The proposed housing ordinance, which carries the threat of a misdemeanor and fines for violators, is intimidating, complains Mr. Ludeman, and enough to make many investors think twice.
Precisely the point. But a group representing the local real estate industry has missed the object of the proposed law as well. Like the councilman, Patty Camacho of the Property Rights Coalition suggests Toledo could send housing investors to other cities where regulations against marketing substandard property are less intrusive.
Not honest investors, counters Terry Glazer, president of the Greater Toledo Housing Coalition.
"Anybody who gets into the real estate business ought to have a plan for making a property safe; otherwise, they shouldn't be in the business," he said.
Hard to dispute that logic unless a hidden agenda like politics or profits is fueling the debate.
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