West Chester Borough is short a reported $75,000 in rental permit revenue and is looking for a way to recoup. The borough’s Building and Housing Department is tasked with inspecting 4,290 apartment and house rentals. A permit is issued for both new and existing rental units. Borough Manager Sean Metrick said that about 15% of rental units, owned by 175 landlords, have not been inspected for two years in a row. The annual charge for a rental permit is $44. “We are definitely behind on inspecting existing rental units,” Metrick said. “We are following up with property owners who didn’t respond to set up appointments.” The Building and Housing Department recently generated new collection letters for 486 total accounts. At a recent Finance and Revenue Committee meeting, Councilman Brian McGinnis said, “We need a clear, actionable plan to collect those fees and ensure all rental properties are inspected as required.”
Source: Daily Local; 1/26/2025