Norwich looks to form fair rent commission

State law requires panel be in place by July 1

Norwich — The City Council will hold a public hearing Monday on an ordinance to create a fair rent commission as required by a state law for municipalities with populations of more than 25,000.

State law requires the commission to be established by July 1. The City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance at 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

The proposed ordinance would create a three-member fair rent commission appointed by the City Council, with at least one member being a landlord and at least one member being a tenant plus two alternates, one being a landlord and one a tenant. All must be registered Norwich voters and will have terms of two years with reappointments allowed.

Mayor Peter Nystrom said the appointment process for the new commission will be the same application process that other city boards and commissions follow. Applications will be posted online, and the City Council Appointments/Reappointments Committee will interview applicants. Nystrom said there is no time schedule for making the appointments and for the commission to hold its first meeting.

The commission will receive complaints and inquiries about alleged excessive rental charges or increases and allegations of retaliation for filing complaints. The commission’s jurisdiction will include mobile homes, but not seasonal rentals defined as rentals of less than 120 days per calendar year.

The commission will have broad authority to investigate complaints, summon witnesses, hold public hearings and deliberate on complaints. The commission could refer any unsafe housing conditions to other appropriate agencies.

If the commission determines rent charges are excessive, the commission could suspend rent payments or reduce further payments “until such time as the landlord makes the necessary changes, repairs, or installations so as to bring such housing accommodation into compliance with any municipal ordinance or state statute or regulation relating to health and safety.”

The commission also could establish an escrow account in a local bank to deposit rent payments during disputes.