INTERFACE. THE NEW FINDINGS FROM SANDIA NATIONAL LABS. BUT FIRST, BRINGING TRANSPARENCY TO FEES CHARGED BY ALBUQUERQUE LANDLORDS. A NEW PIECE OF CITY LEGISLATION AIMING TO REGULATE FEES AND CERTAIN PARTS OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR RENTERS. HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE. AND THERE IS BACKLASH. ACTION 7 NEWS PORTER JOHN CARDINAL IS HERE WITH DETAILS. SHELLY, DOUG, COUNCILOR, TAMMY, PEOPLE CORNERS CALLING THE LEGISLATION THE RESIDENTIAL TENANT PROTECTION ORDINANCE. WHILE IT DOESN’T TACKLE RENT PRICES OR INCREASES. ITS GOAL IS TO CUT FINANCIAL PRESSURES DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS. BUT SOME PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES AREN’T TOO HAPPY WITH SOME OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES. IF YOU RENT, YOU’RE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH APPLICA ATION FEES. I APPLIED TO OVER TEN PROPERTIES WHICH INCLUDE TEN SEPARATE FEES THAT WERE NOT REFUNDED, WHICH IN TOTAL WOULD EQUAL ALMOST AN ENTIRE MONTH’S RENT OR MORE JUST TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE. THIS ALBUQUERQUE RENTER, WHO WANTED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS FOR FEAR OF RETALIATION, SAYS THEY ARE CONSTANTLY BEING HIT WITH ADDITIONAL FEES. FEES UPON FEES UPON FEES, REPAIRS TO A PROPERTY WHICH SHOULDN’T BE THE RENTERS RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THEIR OWN PROPERTY WHEN THEY’RE ALREADY PAYING RENT. WITH THE ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL, TAMMY FEEBLE CORN HAS RECENTLY INTRODUCED THE RESIDENTIAL TENANT PROTECTION ORDINANCE TO ALLEVIATE EXTRA COSTS FOR RENTERS. IT’S CALLING FOR APPLICATION FEES THAT ARE NO LARGER THAN THE LANDLORD’S COST TO PROCESS THEM. THE LEGISLATION’S LANGUAGE ALSO ASKING LANDLORDS TO RETURN FEES FOR UNPROCESSED APPLICATIONS. IT ALSO SETS A CAP ON $15 A MONTH FOR PEOPLE WHO OWN ANY NUMBER OF PETS. WE CHARGE THE FEES THAT NEED TO BE CHARGED NOT TO MAKE A PROFIT. YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THINGS TO HELP OUR PROPERTIES RUN, GROW, GET GOOD QUALITY TENANTS AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE. DAMON MADDOX IS A MANAGING MEMBER AT MADDOX MANAGEMENT LLC. THEY OVERSEE 788 RESIDENTIAL DOORS IN ALBUQUERQUE. HE HAS A FEW ISSUES WITH THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION. ONE CONCERN IS NOT REQUIRING TENANTS TO HAVE RENTERS INSURANCE. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BIG ISSUE OF THAT LIABILITY TO LANDLORD PORTION ON THAT TENANT INSURANCE HAS HELPED US AS A COMPANY THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. IT’S FOR THEIR PROTECTION AS MUCH AS IT IS FOR THE HOMEOWNERS PROTECTION. MADDOX SAYS HE’S WILLING TO WORK WITH COUNCILOR FEEBLE. BUT I WILL TELL YOU, I FEEL CORNERED. IF SHE WANTS TO HAVE THE REALTOR ASSOCIATION AND PROPERTY MANAGERS AT THE TABLE TO HELP HER WRITE SOME GOOD LEGISLATION THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY HELP. WE BE HAPPY TO SIT AT THE TABLE WITH HER. WHILE SOME ALBUQUERQUE RENTERS SAY SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW, I WOULDN’T HAVE ALMOST $2,000 TOWARDS MOVING IN TO A PLACE WE COULD GO TOWARDS NEW YORK CITY LIVING INSTEAD OF ME SEARCHING OUT A PLACE TO LIVE IN. AND WE REACHED OUT TO COUNCIL A FEEBLE CALL TODAY TO TALK ABOUT HER PROPOSAL. IF SHE’S TRAVELING AND WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW. I’M JOHN CORNELY REPORTING KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. THE PROPOSAL HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT