Bill would ban fees for rental inspections

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Officials in some of Indiana's cities and towns are closely tracking a bill that seeks to ban municipalities from collecting fees for rental inspections and registration.

The Times of Munster reports the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee is expected to act this week on the measure, which would ban collection of those fees starting July 1.

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. says his northwestern Indiana city charges rental registration fees to prevent substandard rental housing. He says that banning rental registration fees would harm those efforts.

Hammond requires landlords register their rental properties with the city each year and also pay an annual $80 fee for each rental unit.

City Controller Bobby Lendi says that last year the city brought in about $814,000 through its ordinance.