In Providence, off-campus landlords may feel ‘impact’

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THE PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL is considering imposing “impact fees” on landlords who rent apartment houses largely to college students. The fee would be $300 per student annually. Also under consideration: a $500 license fee for each student-housing property owned by a landlord. / PBN FILE PHOTO/CHRIS BERGENHEIM
THE PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL voted to pass a rent stabilization ordinance that will cap annual rent increases at 4%./PBN FILE PHOTO/CHRIS BERGENHEIM

Landlords who offer off-campus housing to college students in Providence would have to pay “impact fees” and license charges under a proposal being considered by the City Council, but opposition is already forming. Changes to two ordinances would allow the city to charge landlords $300 per student annually – a “student impact” fee that City

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3 COMMENTS

  1. As a former President of the Elmhurst Neighborhood Association and resident of the City, I am all for the proposed student impact fee and the $500/building license fee. It is long over due! As the colleges and universities at issue are largely “tax exempt” institutions, the amount that those institutions pay through the newly renegotiated PILOT Program is minuscule compared to the taxes those institutions would pay if all the property they own were taxed at full valuation. If their students live off campus, either by choice or because the institutions do not have sufficient housing to accommodate those students, then it is only fair that landlords that cater mainly to off campus students should share the burden for city services to insure the quality of life in our neighborhoods. This particularly applies to companies like 02908 and Strive that have made millions. They have made millions. At least 02908 has taken efforts to restore in a responsible way the properties under their care and maintain the architectural character and feel of the neighborhoods. The same cannot be said for Strive.

  2. The fines of $500/day could run a small landlord bankrupt in no time. These fines are not for if there’s an issue, disturbance or ordinance broken. These fines are for failing to register. So one 3-family building could see fines of $1500/day just for not registering, even if the tenants never cause a disturbance. That fine is unbelievable given that no harm even has to be caused, to impose a fine so extreme that it could result in the city taking the property.

  3. The fines of $500/day are not per landlord or building, they are for each unit in an unregistered property. The fines are not for a disturbance or broken ordinance, they are for not registering. Furthermore the city can deny a landlords registration for reasons not related to city ordinances or neighborhood disturbances.