The Madison City Council will tackle the lingering issue of exterior locks at tonight’s meeting.
If passed, the ordinance would allow 180 days for landlords to install guarded latches and self-closing devices on doors of multi-unit apartment buildings. The ordinance would also require locks on all common room doors and the installation of doorbells, intercoms or effective buzzer systems.
Nancy Jensen, executive director for the Apartment Association of South Central Wisconsin, said the association is in support of the ordinance.
Jensen said she feels there will be enough support in the council to pass the ordinance.
“We’ve had none of our members call and complain, there have been more calls about compliance issues,” Jensen said. “But I’m not aware of any complaints.”
Jensen said information has been sent out to landlords and the issue has been well publicized.
The proposal first passed the housing subcommittee but was then referred at the housing committee after members from local apartment associations expressed concerns about the compliance period. After a second review in the subcommittee, the compliance period was increased from 60 days to 180 days and passed through the housing committee Dec. 2.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he is optimistic the council will pass the ordinance.
“I’m hopeful it will finally close this ridiculous loophole in our building code,” Verveer said.
Both Verveer and Ald. Judy Olson, District 5, have been pushing the ordinance since a female UW student was sexually assaulted in the basement of her unlocked apartment building this past summer.
“I’m sad that it took a campus sexual assault to bring this issue to light,” Verveer said. “That is the reason why we finally are closing the loophole.”
Both Verveer and Olson have worked with the housing and lock industries to extend the compliance time from the original 60 days to 180 days.
“We originally were thinking that 60 days would be enough, but after talking to landlords and representatives of the security industry, [w]e came to the realization that it would not be possible for all of the locks that need to be installed,” Verveer said.
