Homebuyer & Renter Notification Act (Monroe County)
STATUS: Referred to Administration
Introduced in September 2011 by Legislator Vinnie Esposito (D-Irondequoit) and the entire Minority Caucus, this legislation would require licensed real estate brokers and salespersons to provide documentation of the databases available to prospective home buyers and renters on the location of registered sex offenders in Monroe County.
GRAR has had a long standing commitment to protecting our communities’ families from convicted sex offenders and was a lead advocate in closing a loophole within New York State’s Division of Licensing that previously allowed registered convicted sex offenders to obtain a real estate license and in effect have lockbox access to homes being sold and the families living in them. GRAR strongly supports the intent of this legislation and efforts to raise awareness and educate all members of our community on the databases available that provide information on the location of registered sex offenders, however we do not believe the real estate transaction is the appropriate venue to facilitate or fulfill the intent of this bill.
Click here for GRAR's full Memo In Opposition.
Administrative/Inspection/Judicial Search Warrants (City of Rochester)
In early 2007, City of Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy introduced new legislation that would create standards and procedures for city officials to, if necessary, obtain search warrants to check for code and ordinance violations called Administrative Search Warrants.
GRAR's Industry Advocacy Committee met with representatives from the City in October 2008 to discuss this issue and more specifically REALTORS®’ concern with the proposed legislation; GRAR did not oppose the intent of this bill of creating and maintaining safe housing stock in the City of Rochester, however we do not support the vagueness and unclear language of this particular legislation. On January 21, 2009, GRAR representatives at a public hearing on the issue presented City Council and the City's Law Department with suggested changes to the legislation. After the hearing City Council had made minor amendments to the bill with some of our issues addressed and the newly amended bill was voted on and passed at the February 17th City Council meeting. Councilmembers Lovely Warren and Adam McFadden voted against the measure. GRAR will continue to monitor this ordinance and any implications it may have on the real estate industry.
Landlord Registry (City of Rochester)
GRAR's Industry Advocacy Committee met with representatives from the City in October 2008 to discuss this issue and more specifically REALTORS®’ concern that the means to accomplish this database are already available and that new legislation would not be necessary. On January 14th GRAR launched a Call for Action advocacy campaign to City Council on this issue, over 1,500 letters were sent. On January 20th City Council unanimously passed the bill into law, they did however pass a version in which cell phone numbers would not be included in public documents.
Lead Paint (City of Rochester)
GRAR will continue to monitor this ordinance and any implications it may have on the real estate industry.
Others...
If you are aware of a new law, ordinance or resolution being proposed in your local municipality that may be a hinderance on real property owners' rights or impede your ability to represent your clients in a real estate transaction, please contact GRAR's Government Affairs Department and together we will make sure the REALTOR® Voice is heard!
