The City of Kelowna is tackling problematic properties through a new collaboration with local law enforcement agencies.
The Property Standards Compliance Team (PSCT), a partnership between the RCMP, the City of Kelowna and the Kelowna Fire Department, will service and fix potentially unsafe or illegal properties.
The team’s goal is to respond to repeated complaints from neighbors about real estate. It combines enforcement of criminal activity when needed with RCMP in collaboration with city law and building inspection staff.
“We receive calls from affected neighbors, like the RCMP, year-round about properties that are repetitively disrupting the neighborhood,” said David Gazley, director of statutory services. “This approach obliges the owner to address concerns rather than focus on tenants who may be the source of complaints. The team’s fines and orders motivate the owner to take action. “
Six tickets valued at over $ 2,500 were recently handed to a property owner. A Statutory Officer attended the RCMP and Urban Development Inspectors and issued the following six tickets to the owner:
- More than five inmates not related
- Illegally occupied bedroom in the furnace room
- Illegally occupied commercial vehicle trailer
- Illegally occupied shed
- Illegal room in the carriage loft
- Building without permission in the attic
“We have always worked with RCMP and others on property complaints, but this team is taking a more coordinated and proactive approach to prioritizing and getting the right people into the residence to assess illegal and unsafe conditions,” said Gazley.
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Do you have anything to add to this story or anything else we should cover? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
@ Michaelrdrguez
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