City officials are one step closer to improving the aesthetics of residential areas in Austin after Monday night’s City Council work session.

Community Development Director Craig Hoium outlined some possibilities for a housing ordinance, geared at rental property, that would hopefully reduce crime and keep buildings in better shape.

The ordinance could allow inspectors to enter rental property for regular inspections to pinpoint areas in the building that need upkeep. These inspections would end up costing landlords money, but that cost is yet to be determined as talks about the ordinance continue.

Peter Grover of the Landlord Association said city officials and council members have done a good job thus far of focusing on keeping costs to landlords low, and he hopes that will continue as the new regulation is drafted.

“Be careful it doesn’t become too expensive and too burdensome,” Grover said at the meeting. “That will damage the rental market.”

The ordinance would take special care to make sure out of state and out of town landlords are available to be contacted at any time, so police can notify them if a crime occurs at their rental property. Council members discussed making it mandatory for all landlords to have a slip of paper on the front window of their properties listing their name and contact information since it sometimes takes time to track them down if they live outside of Austin. This could also be helpful for tenants.

Hoium also provided council members and the mayor with information about housing ordinances in other towns like Owatonna, Albert Lea, Faribault and Winona. Each city has implemented something similar, with Albert Lea initiating it as recent as 2009.

City Council took no formal action at the meeting, but members gave city staff the go-ahead to begin a first draft of the ordinance.