The proposed system of rental licensing is designed to make landlords' contact information and complaint records easily accessible from the town's Web site. The Town Council most likely will decide in late February if the policy should be implemented.
Much of the discussion at the public forum centered on the overall cost of the program, which is expected to reach $92,300 for just the first year, said Town Manager Cal Horton.
But Horton said he expects licensing fees will raise more than that amount. He estimates that the program will generate $94,140 from landlords, who would pay up to $12 per unit a year to keep their licenses. A unit is a house or an apartment that is rented.
The estimates leave almost $2,000 as a buffer in case some landlords stop renting because of the licensing process.
The cost estimates also include $10,000 in legal fees and $38,000 for the salary of a zoning enforcement officer, who will serve as a liaison between tenants and landlords.
Some residents who spoke at the forum cited a lack of communication between tenants and landlords as a major problem for college students, who comprise the majority of renters in the town.
Lee Conner, a UNC law student who was a member of the Rental Licensing Task Force, said the licensing is not an undue burden on landlords and is needed to advance the living conditions of college students.
"Quite frankly, its hard to communicate with somebody when you can't find them," he said.
Conner said people who have rowdy neighbors also stand to benefit from the licensing agreement, especially in areas that border campus. Landlords from the McCauley Street historic neighborhood said they agreed.
