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Crime Free Multi-Housing
 The City of Mankato has a significant number of rental properties partly due to the presence of the higher education institutions in the area. Rental properties present a unique challenge for law enforcement. The typical Block Watch approach to residents in single family homes is not easily adapted to rental communities. In single family homes, owners generally have a large cash investment in the purchase of their home. This motivates owners to a greater concern about crime in their neighborhoods. With rising crime rates come lowering property values.
In rental properties, the communities tend to move a lot. In many cases, owners don’t even require leases and residency is based on a month-to-month agreement. This allows for an occupant to move very easily if they feel crime has reached a level they will not tolerate. It is easier to move away from crime than to confront it.
The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program began in Mesa Arizona in 1992. The program utilizes a multi-faceted approach involving law enforcement, property managers and residents of rental properties.
The first phase of the program involves the training of property managers in how to keep criminals out through good tenant screening and how to remove criminal tenants with the use of a Crime Free Lease Addendum. This addendum to the lease agreement lists specific criminal acts that, if committed on the property, will result in the immediate termination of the resident’s lease.
The second phase requires that rental properties meet basic safety requirements. The use of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (C.P.T.E.D.) has been used to combat crimes that might occur in the parking lots or common areas.
The third phase involves the residents. Property managers must hold a social event annually for the tenants with the hope that this will encourage them to become an organized group of eyes and ears for the property.
In 2006 the Mankato Department of Public Safety implemented the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program in the City of Mankato. In September, Highland Hills Apartments became the first property fully certified in the Crime Free program.
The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program achieved almost instant success in Mesa, Arizona. In rental properties with the highest crime rates, the immediate results showed up to a 90 percent reduction in police calls for service. Even in the best properties reductions of 15 percent to 20 percent were not uncommon. These positive results have been seen by many of the communities that have implemented this program and while it is too soon to tell, we are hopeful that we will see positive results as well.
If you are interested in learning more about the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program contact the Mankato Department of Public Safety at (507) 387-8795 or e-mail.
Crime Free Multi-Housing Training Session
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