Guest post from Matt Roberds
Changes are still coming to Independence’s Rental Ready program…
…we just don’t know exactly when.
At the May 20, 2024, City Council meeting, the city of Independence passed a bill to make some general changes to their business licenses.
The most interesting change for housing providers is that now, if the city suspends or revokes a business license, the license holder must go through the circuit court to appeal that decision. Previously, appeals were heard by the City Council.
There are two provisions in this bill that appear to be similar to a change to rental business licenses that was proposed, but didn’t pass,
in January 2024. The provisions are:
1. To get the power and water to be turned on to an “office, commercial and industrial establishment”, there must be a valid Independence business license for that address. (Independence can do this because they own their own electric utility, in addition to owning the water utility.)
2. If the business is an LLC, the LLC must be registered with the City.
Before the vote on the May bill, City staff stated that these provisions did not apply to rental properties, Rental Ready, or residential housing units.
The bill passed, 7 to 0.
After the meeting, I spoke briefly with the Community Development Director, who is in charge of Rental Ready. I asked if he had any time
frame on upcoming changes to Rental Ready and he said he didn’t.
I also spoke briefly with the same City Council member that spoke with me after previous City Council meetings when I had expressed my concerns. He again said that more changes to Rental Ready are probably still coming, but didn’t have a definite date.
The City Council member repeated his advice to keep watching the Council
agenda page for updates.
Matt Roberds
+1-816-463-8231
