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To: Hulka
There's a town along the Jersey shore where these conflicts between year-round residents and seasonal renters has become a big problem over the years. A recent (maybe still current) mayor implemented a colorful and interesting approach to dealing with endless problems with unsupervised teenagers and college kids causing trouble. The town began publishing a summer newsletter with a weekly "Police Blotter" that listed all of the places -- by street address and property owner -- that had police complaints related to noise, underage drinking, narcotics, garbage disposal, etc. They also adopted a town ordinance that levied heavy fines against the property owner whenever the house was listed in the police report. The fines would escalate over time.

Eventually it got to the point where the property owners began writing provisions into the rental agreements whereby the renter(s) would have to pay any fines associated with their troublemaking, and the only way the owner could guarantee payment would be to demand enough money up front (as part of the deposit) to cover the fine if necessary. When a bunch of young punks has to come up with a $10,000 or $20,000 deposit for a two-week rental, they either find somewhere else to go or they make sure they are on their best behavior.

That actually helped solve the problem. In that particular case any concerns about the property owner's rights weren't much of a factor, for a very important reason: Most of the owners of the rental properties lived out of town, and therefore had no say in the harsh measures the municipal government imposed.

19 posted on 11/09/2014 8:40:00 AM PST by Alberta's Child ("The ship be sinking.")
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To: Alberta's Child

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.


22 posted on 11/09/2014 8:57:46 AM PST by Hulka
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