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Poll results

The City of Worcester has launched a new rental registry, where the owners of residential, commercial, industrial properties, and vacant lots rented for any purpose must be registered by a deadline of April 30. The registry includes annual fees ranging from $5 to $25 per unit based on the type of property, and a $300 daily fine for failing to meet the deadline. City officials say the registry will give more insight into Worcester’s rental housing stock and allow for better response to emergency situations or instances where property owners need to be notified. In their March 27 meeting, members of the Worcester City Council, who previously approved the registry, criticized its rollout, calling for an extension of the deadline or a delay in the imposition of the daily fine.

Should landlords be required to register their rental units with the City of Worcester?
Yes, having such a database has numerous benefits, and the deadline and fines are necessary to force landlords to comply. (30%, 94 VOTES)
Yes, but the deadline needs to be extended, and the fine is too high. (14%, 43 VOTES)
Yes, but the registry should only be for residential units. (5%, 17 VOTES)
No, the city government doesn't need that level of information. (23%, 72 VOTES)
No, the registry should be voluntary and without a fine for not registering. (28%, 86 VOTES)
Poll Description

The City of Worcester has launched a new rental registry, where the owners of residential, commercial, industrial properties, and vacant lots rented for any purpose must be registered by a deadline of April 30. The registry includes annual fees ranging from $5 to $25 per unit based on the type of property, and a $300 daily fine for failing to meet the deadline. City officials say the registry will give more insight into Worcester’s rental housing stock and allow for better response to emergency situations or instances where property owners need to be notified. In their March 27 meeting, members of the Worcester City Council, who previously approved the registry, criticized its rollout, calling for an extension of the deadline or a delay in the imposition of the daily fine.

  • 312 Votes
  • 3 Comments
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3 Comments

  • April 9, 2024

    @Robert Murner - looking at the City's property database, the address of the owner on file for your Ferdinand Street property is the Ferdinand Street address, so the letter notifying you would have been sent to your tenants. You should update your records with the assessor's office so you receive these notices at your Shrewsbury address - just another reason we need this rental registry!

  • Robert Murner
    April 9, 2024

    I own a 3 family property on Ferdinand Street and this is the first I'm hearing about the need to register. If I had not read this in the WBJ I would have never known and would have been charged $300/day? Outrageous!

  • April 8, 2024

    They never have enough control.