Aurora expands crime-free housing classes
The city of Aurora has added additional mandatory, crime-free housing classes. Owners, landlords and agents of rental and non-owner occupied residential buildings in Aurora will not be charged a fee.
A class in English has been scheduled for Nov. 14 in Copley Theater, 8 East Galena Boulevard, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Officials say the additional free sessions are being offered in part because of the response from those required to take the class. Some 2,700 people have gone through the training.
Attendance in one of the classes is mandatory to obtain an operating license, which is now required for all non-owner occupied residential dwelling units and buildings, whether or not rent is paid; and all two-unit and multiple unit buildings, whether or not they are owner-occupied.
Those who have already attended the city's landlord training classes, or an approved crime-free housing class in another city, are grandfathered in. Property owners may also have agents who are authorized and registered with the city attend the class on the owner's behalf, provided the agents will assume all duties, obligations and responsibilities.
The required class provides landlords and property owners with tools to combat crime and improve the quality of life on their properties. Topics include licensing and inspections; criminal background checks and lease addendums; Section 8; trespass agreements; crime and fire prevention; and gang and drug awareness.
Owners of non-owner occupied residential property including condominiums, town homes, or single-unit residential buildings as well as two-unit and multiple-unit buildings are required to be registered and licensed with the city.
For more information on the new licensing and inspection requirements, call 630-897-4589. Application forms are available at www.aurora-il.org.
To register or receive more information, call Aurora police at 630-264-8104. In order to register, applicants must supply their names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and the addresses of all rental properties they control.
