Property owners mingle at Lynn meeting for new group

LYNN – About a dozen landlords eager to share stories and ideas met in downtown Lynn Thursday for the introductory meeting of the North Shore Rental Property Association.?This is really about connecting new landlords with experienced ones,” founder Stacey Devendorf told the group.The crowd, comprised almost completely of local landlords, met at LynnARTS to discuss their expectations for the new association, whose goal is to provide landlords and housing industry professionals on the North Shore with tools and information necessary to improve their business, according to Devendorf.Seasoned landlord Steve Elliot had numerous suggestions for future meetings, including having representatives from the Housing Board and Inspectional Services give educational presentations.?It?s good to network,” Elliot said. “What people don?t realize is, whether you have one unit or 100,000, you?re held to the same standards.”Devendorf told the group she had some speakers “in the pipeline,” but wanted to hear from the community before moving forward with planning meetings.?Certainly we could have some workshops planned on landlord screening, what you can legally say in a lease, trusts and LLCs,” she said.Devendorf said individual meetings would likely cost about $15 individually, or interested people could purchase a membership for around $75 to $100 per year.Devendorf stressed that she wanted the group to be “an environment where everyone is welcome,” but said she would seldom if ever hold meetings where both tenants and landlords could attend.?I?d like to get more information on our rights,” said Connie Wagner, who oversees a three-unit property on Chatham Street with her husband William. “If we?re more united, maybe we?ll have a little more leverage to change things.”William Wagner said the couple is currently having a problem with squatters living and “dealing drugs” in a foreclosed property adjacent to theirs.?We should have a right to do something about that,” Wagner said. “I?m wondering, us as an organization, will we have an effect on the city?”Devendorf said she had spoken with several city councilors and was “very optimistic about their help and support” of the organization.The group?s first meeting is currently set for April 4 at the Lynn Housing Authority, Devendorf said.Taylor Provost can be reached at [email protected].