Recently, Compliance Connections was proud to serve as a co-sponsor along with Safeguard Properties and the American Association of Code Enforcement (AACE) for an exclusive scholarship opportunity open to active code enforcement professionals to attend this year’s upcoming National Property Preservation Conference (NPPC).
Since beginning in 2004, the NPPC has served as a premier platform for leaders, servicers and investors from across the mortgage industry gather to discuss current topics and develop solutions for the future. Through communication and teamwork, the event works to build consensus and establish standards for policies and services. Now in its 15th year, the conference will be taking place November 3-5 in Washington, D.C.
As our next featured 2019 scholarship recipient, Code Enforcement Chief Barry Chamberlain has served Sacramento County Calif., for 15 years while being in his current position for the last four.
In addition to currently working in the field of code enforcement, Barry (along with all other participants) was required to complete three essay questions to be considered for five available packages. His thought provoking answers can be found below.
How did the housing crisis in 2008 change the role of a code enforcement officer?
The housing crisis required our department to increase staffing in our housing unit and we also use our zoning staff to assist. It was basically all hands on deck. We attempted to development a registration program late 2007 and early 2008 but our board of supervisors did not approve our request. The banks were overwhelmed with the large number of foreclosures, which led to our requests for information related to the properties to often not to be answered in a timely manner or ignored. We were boarding up houses and running off transients that were moving into empty homes on a daily basis. The transients would put the electric or gas bill in their name, change the locks and take up residency. Proper noticing to banks and property owners was a huge problem because of the turnover, and attempting to verify who the legal occupant of the property was nearly impossible.
To compound the issue, we were in development of our Rental Housing Program that went live Jan. of 2010. There was a registration component where all rental properties in the County were required to register with the program and give owner contact information. Houses were changing hands so fast that it was nearly impossible to maintain the database.
The crisis made us better at communicating with banks, servicing companies and other financial institutions. We also acquired better databases to track ownership and persons with an interest in the property. It made our housing and rental housing teams better. Our entire staff was trained to deal with vacant and/or foreclosure properties because of the housing crisis.Ten years since the housing crisis, the economy is improving, and mortgage default rates are declining. Have you noticed an improvement in your community? Be specific.
There has been an obvious improvement. Large numbers of vacant properties have been purchased and rehabbed. The prices of many homes in lower income areas were priced to sell and in many instances allowed those that may have been unable to afford a home, the ability able to pick one up and rehab it at a reasonable price. I think that the banks learned a lesson and are better at servicing these properties or have contracted with service providers to manage the stock. Also, there is such a shortage of rental stock and single family homes in California that investors have also bought up the available stock and turning them into rentals.What is your biggest frustration when attempting to enforce code on residential properties?
Because we have a rental housing inspection program, working with rental properties is not so difficult. The difficulty comes when working with owner occupied homes and getting them to make repairs when money is an issue. Last thing you want to confront is putting a property owner out of his home. Fortunately, we have a great working relationship with the Department of Human Assistance (DHA), which has allowed us to forward owners of both owner occupied and rental properties to DHA to get them available help to make repairs. This is a fairly new option. We have also forwarded those in need to Sacramento Housing and Re-Development, which has funding sources also. We have assisted in the development of a resource guide listing resources throughout the county for those in need.
In addition to being a passionate code professional, Barry also is an avid sports fan. Other hobbies include reading, riding his Peloton bike and traveling.
Congratulations, Barry! We appreciate everything that you do to serve your community.