Housing Authority conducts landlord training

Several local landlords gathered at the Crawford house Tuesday, Oct. 20, to participate in a Section 8 landlord training session hosted by the Nevada Public Housing Authority as part of the Housing America Campaign.

The first segment of information was presented by JoAnn Jones, Section 8 coordinator for the Nevada Public Housing Authority, and was designed to educate the audience about how to screen, select and deal consistently with renters.

Jones informed those present about the different ways that landlords can protect themselves in landlord-tenant type relationships. She stressed how important it was to have a clear set of policies and procedures in place and that it was imperative for those to be followed to the letter and be applied evenly across the board.

Jones touched on several specific subjects, including using a no cash policy. Jones advocated using checks and money orders because "they are just safer all around." And she said that landlords should develop a policies and procedures handbook that states the method of payment and stick to the policy. "Not doing these things is costing landlords thousands of dollars," she stated.

Jones also told the group to make sure and check the previous rental history of a prospective renter. She mentioned a number of ways that renters manipulate information to gain access to a rental property. Jones said that providing fair housing information to all applicants regarding the process should be a matter of policy.

Don't do any more verbal communication than you have to, Jones said. People will take what you tell them and use it against you later.

"Let your paperwork speak for you; let your leases speak for you, and your policies, because that will cover you, and it will stand up in court." Jones finished her presentation with information on how private landlords can pass on associated costs, like the price of a background check, to the renter, and mentioned that those facts need to be stated in the individual landlord's policies and procedures.

Most of the ideas Jones touched on were contained in a couple of handouts everyone received. She concluded her presentation by encouraging everyone to enjoy the Mexican buffet provided by the host.

As the crowd enjoyed the meal, Sgt. Jeff Baker of the Nevada Police Department took the floor to inform the group about the manufacturing of methamphetamines and what to watch for at their properties that would indicate illegal activity.

Baker showed the crowd an assortment of photographs depicting different examples of meth labs and equipment used in making the drug. He cautioned the landlords to watch their properties very closely for signs of meth lab activity saying that "the labs are bad because the EPA can come in and condemn your house and tear it down."

However, he did say that "We're not seeing the meth labs as much right now, but the 'shake and bake' is a big thing right now." The shake and bake method of manufacturing meth is very dangerous to the public because the drug is produced in a two liter soda bottle or similar container and then the container is just discarded.

The problem comes when the discarded bottle is opened; the oxygen entering the bottle causes a chemical reaction to the chemicals left in the bottle and the result can be very serious burns for whoever opens the bottle. Baker said if you see a discarded two liter bottle do not touch it.

The bottles can be anywhere. "They may throw them under your rental house," he said.

Local law enforcement officials have been finding them all over the place. They sometimes find them in the trash that has been set out at the curb.

Baker advised the group to be aware of what goes on at their properties and to watch for certain things. Chemical odors coming from a house can be a give away as can odd or excessive numbers of things like propane tanks, which are used to steal anhydrous ammonia, a chemical fertilizer used in the meth manufacturing process.

Unusual numbers of things like starting fluid, camping fuel, glass ware, red phosphorus containers, large numbers of Sudafed boxes or medications containing the drug ephedrine can also be a clue that property owners can use to determine if there is something illegal happening on their rental property.

He also cautioned property owners to watch for large amounts of trash in garages or automobiles, because criminal don't want the evidence of their activity out on the curb where it becomes public property that anyone can take, including the police. Sgt. Baker informed the landlords about huffing paint and other substances.

After fielding a few questions, Baker gave the crowd a bit of information on registered sex offenders. He told them how to find out if a prospective renter was a registered offender and how they were required to register. He gave them some figures on the number of offenders in the community and the county and an idea of how he tries to monitor offenders as the local officer whose job it is to keep track of them.

Baker gave the crowd a lot of good information that can be used by any landlord, not just those that participate in Section 8 housing, to make the community safer for everyone. J.J. Curtis, who was attending his first landlord's meeting, found the presentations useful. He said that effective screening is the biggest problem he has as a landlord. He said, he found the information very beneficial. He learned, "lots of do's and don'ts, and I've learned that I need to develop a policies and procedures manual."

Suzanna Harger manages several properties and even though this was not her first meeting she said, "I like them. It's good for all the landlords to get together and share information. Having the police department give their input this time was a great advantage to people like me that don't know what those things like that look like, it helps!"