Proposed Ordinance Looks to Raise Standards on Rockford's Apartments

Rockford Apartment Association President Paul Arena says "we want  to improve the environment for people who rent ."

 Arena is president of the apartment association, he says  landlords can often be left in the dark when it comes to incidents at their properties. The lines of communication as he puts it, aren't very open.

He told us "they're saying to us do you know how many times the police have been here--and the answer to that is no because nobody's been telling us".

But he says, there's a remedy-- a new ordinance that would have landlords and tenants registered in a system, holding them, accountable for incidents at their buildings,--a move arena dubs a "call to action".

He says "you don't have to accept that as normal behavior in Rockford, we can say at least certain standards are expected of everyone."

 Standards he says every landlord and tenant would have to follow, and members of the city council agree

Alderman Frank Beach said ".I think this is a good step forward from a lot of work and a lot of effort from a lot of people

 Beach is a supporter of the ordinance, he says its high time that the city demands more from its landlords and tenants, letting them know the bar is raising.