rental housing inspections

Portage Township Trustee Jason Critchlow and the nonprofit We Make Indiana say it's time to better enforce South Bend's rental housing standards, and they'll visit other Indiana cities to see what has worked.

South Bend faith communities are calling on the city to tighten its Rental Safety Verification Program and step up enforcement against problem landlords.

The Elkhart City Council voted Monday night to approve a contested ordinance requiring all rental properties in the city to be registered annually, and inspected every three years.

Elkhart landlords pushed back this week against a proposed rental registration ordinance the City Council plans to vote on Monday.

Portage Township Trustee Jason Critchlow says most requests for rent help come from tenants behind on rent whose landlords have suggested they come to the trustee.