A major decision that will impact Minnesotans’ privacy rights is waiting to be heard in the state’s court of Appeals.
It all started off simply enough. Jason and Jackie Wiebesick were a Golden Valley couple who lived in a duplex. One day, officials from the city approached them to ask permission to inspect their home. The stated reason was to collect information so as to make a decision over whether to renew the Wiebesick’s rental license.
Disturbed by the prospect of unfamiliar people walking around their home, the Wiebesick’s turned down the inspectors’ request. One might think it would have ended there, but the city saw to it that it didn’t.
Taking the case to court, Golden Valley authorities implored a county judge to issue a warrant overriding the Wiebesick’s objections and allowing them into the house. Tellingly, the judge refused their request for a warrant, prompting the city to reach even higher.
See video about the case on the next page:
Wow
They’re pushing all then can to see how much resistance they will have.
This is insane
Most still have blinders
Can’t do it
Beloit Wisconsin did that all the time. Then if you refused you got threatened to have your kids taken away and a citations. If you did let the housing inspector in you got at least two citations for dumb$#%&!@*while shevtreated everyone like$#%&!@*
In many if not all areas, owners who lease out a property are subject to inspections for various building codes of a habitat like motel and hotel rooms and apartments. If this is true of them then they need occupancy certificates and all that rubbish before leasing.
Okay then. I guess that Target or Walmart is a private business and don’t need fire alarms or sprinklers or any handicapped access either, because they are private huh?
Michael Ferro, you are not alone here. If they want to use the property as a rental unit they need to allow the city to inspect the property as they have in the past. If the city was smart they’d deny them the ability to rent out the property and use the legal system to punish them should they refuse to abide by the laws others abide by. If I was the city I’d be wondering what they’re hiding to refuse the inspection.
Make everyone’s lives easier. Don’t do the inspection and make the couple have to pay the mortgage and utilities on their rental property out of their own pocket. They’re being stupid making a line in the sand on such a ridiculous obligation.
City has no right to inspect their property without a warrant. As simple as that.
Illegal.
Uh, it’s not their home, it’s a property they rent to others. Which makes it a completely different situation. What about the right of the renters to live in a safe duplex?
If they own it it is theirs. Nobody has the RIGHT to live in a safe building.
I like all of the misinformed comments on this subject. There are way more laws allowing a city to inspect even your own private residence. Hell has anyone even heard of eminent domain? The city can even force you to sell your own house. This is a system called democratic socialism. We all have a choice to either live in the city with all the codes and regulations or move somewhere else. By purchasing a property within the city limits, you agree to abide by their laws. Most all cities have laws that require rental property to follow certain guidelines. A regular property inspection is one of those laws.
And if any part of your residence is a rental property, then the entire building is then to be made available for inspection.
Don’t like those laws, don’t rent or don’t live there.
I sure hope that anyone who believes this couple to be right, then you disagree with things like prisons.
What gives the govt the right to protect the rights of a tennant?
Your constitutional rights stop when they infringe upon another person. Period.
If you steal from someone, you go to jail.
If you rent out a part of your home, you give up a little bit of your privacy for the rights of your tennant to have a safe home.
Welcome to the New World Order America. The same tyranny we fought to free ourselves from has taken back over while you watch the Kardashians on television.