Syracuse launches new online tool to search for rental properties
The City of Syracuse in New York on Friday launched Look Before You Rent, a new online tool that allows users to search by location to discover a rental property’s status on the City’s Rental Registry and Certificate of Compliance programs.
The interactive map, accessible via desktop or mobile devices, provides information on code violations, if a property has been declared unfit for occupancy, and other property information for the city’s roughly 145,000 residents.
“We want people to live in safe, healthy housing and have access to property information that can help them make informed decisions before signing a lease,” Mayor Ben Walsh said in the Friday announcement. “Look Before You Rent is built on a user-friendly map that provides a baseline understanding of a property’s record with City Code Enforcement. It increases codes transparency and encourages greater accountability for landlords with open code violations or non-compliance with our rental certificate programs.”
Under city code, rental properties in Syracuse must be inspected every three years and be clear of any code violations to be issued a certificate.
The new rental tool also features additional neighborhood context, including Syracuse Common Council districts, vacant properties, and neighborhood amenities such as bicycle and bus routes, bus stops, schools, and parks. Once selecting a property address, a pop-up window appears with owner information, code enforcement data, property history, and a link to see the area in Google Street View.
