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Landlords Turn Out for Crime Free Housing Seminar


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Approximately 60 rental property owners attended the first Crime Free Housing Seminar. (Photo: VOPF)

Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— Last year’s adoption of a Crime Free Housing Ordinance in Park Forest prompted the attendance of close to 60 rental property owners at Dining on the Green last Tuesday for the first Crime Free Housing Seminar conducted in the Village.

The six-hour seminar provides rental property owners with detailed information on the purpose of the Crime Free Housing ordinance and how landlords and their tenants can remain in compliance with the statute aimed at preventing problematic rental properties from forming in Park Forest.

Some of the new requirements for rental property owners include completion of a six-hour seminar once every three years and annual completion of a rental property license application and payment for licensure through the Park Forest Police Department. Those who completed each requirement Tuesday will receive temporary license for their rental property, valid until an inspection is completed by police, says Community Policing Officer La Tara Chaney.

Park Forest Police are expected to inspect each property within 90 days from issue date of temporary licensure.

Detective Todd Beilke says some of the things police will look for during inspection include adequate lighting, length of bushes and trees and security of doors.

The Police Department landlord license and inspection is separate from the Village’s change of occupancy inspection program administered by the Building Department. That program requires an inspection at each change of occupancy of a dwelling unit and checks for violations of the Village’s municipal code for property maintenance.

With the institution of the Crime Free Housing ordinance, applications for re-occupancy inspection will not be accepted by the Building Department until Police first verify a license has been issued. Once confirmation is made, the application and $100 inspection fee are accepted and an inspection date can be set. The Building Department also provides information on the types of items looked for in the inspection.

The Crime Free Housing Ordinance officially went into affect March 1st in Park Forest.John Nebl of the Schaumburg Police Department, one of the 1st certified instructors for Crime Free Housing in Illinois, was one of several to speak at Tuesday’s seminar. Others to present to the group included Village Prosecutor Jason Daniel ian and Village Inspectors.

The next seminar will be offered Saturday, March 29th from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Dining on the Green. Rental property owners in Park Forest interested in registering for the seminar should contact La Tara Chaney at 708-748-9536 or [email protected].

Source: VOPF.COM


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