The City of Fayette is preparing to crack down on rental properties inside of single-family residential districts that cater to non-family tenants, such as college students.

Building inspector Jason Hampton told Fayette's Board of Aldermen last week that he plans to begin inspecting rental houses in August before Central Methodist University students arrive for the fall semester.

“There’s a bunch in RS-1,” he said.

The current city ordinance states that only “single-family dwellings” are allowed in RS-1 zones, although it does allow for homes with up to eight unrelated people with mental or physical handicaps and homes licensed by the Division of Family Services or Department of Mental Health to provide foster care.

Southwest Ward Alderman J.B. Waggoner has made protecting RS-1 zoning a priority. The issue has become more notable in recent months while the city and the ambulance district are at odds regarding the district’s plan to build a new ambulance base in a neighborhood zoned for single-family residences. This new effort at cracking down on rental homes is an additional effort to protect RS-1.

Waggoner recalled that city codes once allowed for up to four unrelated people to rent a home in an RS-1 zone, but the current code is more stringent.

“We need to attack this,” Waggoner said. “I’d like to see us move this to action because we’re in rental season here. And we don't need to have seven college students in RS-1. That’s part of what’s happening.” He suggested the city send a copy of the ordinance to landlords.

The city also indicated it is planning to enforce issues with tenants leaving town without paying utility bills. Unpaid bills thus far add up to around $90,000, according to City Administrator Deanna Cooper.

The current ordinance states that utility services “shall be deemed to be furnished to both the occupant and the owner of the premises” and that the city can sue “the occupant or owner, or both to recover any sums due for such services.”

Cooper said until now the city has not taken legal action against landlords to recover unpaid bills. “That is going to change,” she said. “We all have a duty to pay our utilities, like it or not.”