Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Andrew Adams and Randall Jeppesen reportingProvo City is considering mandating background checks for all renters, with one notable exception: BYU students.
As the proposed law stands now, Brigham Young University students would be exempt because their school has a code of conduct. City councilwoman Cindy Clark questions the fairness.
"There are many times that there are criminal offenses with BYU students as well as anyone. So, I think it's something we're going to have to study and look at a little bit more," Clark said.
A woman who rents out her basement told KSL Newsradio she already makes sure she rents to non-problematic individuals. "If it's going to cost me to do that background check, I think that would be prohibitive," she said.
Some tenants in her neighborhood also have their concerns. "It takes a lot time to get them back, and I don't think it's a good idea," one woman said.
The purpose of this measure is to reduce crime, and similar laws elsewhere have been effective. The Deseret News reports crime dropped 12 percent in Ogden the first year after a similar law was put in place there.
E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com
