Monday’s Housing Committee meeting featured a conversation about an upcoming training for landlords provided by the city’s partner Home Opportunities Made Equal. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

A partner organization with the city’s Department of Development, Home Opportunities Made Equal, that provides training, advocacy and assistance to tenants and landlords is set to hold a free training for landlords at the beginning of March.

During Monday’s City Council Housing Committee meeting, Crystal Surdyk, city development director, provided the committee with flyers providing details of the training. The training is for Fair Housing 101, specifically for landlords, and will be held at the Prendergast Library on March 10 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

“We have a vacant property rental program that we are referring all of our landlords that are going through that to attend this,” Surdyk said. “It’s not a mandatory part of their contract, but it is strongly recommended, especially for newer landlords.”

The training will go over fair housing laws, protected classes, rights and responsibilities, laws and local ordinances, evictions and small claims courts, and involve a question and answer session. Surdyk said it is to make sure landlords are up to speed on what their responsibilities are as a property owner in the city.

A representative from HOME does also come to the Department of Development once a month for an open house type meeting.

“You can make an appointment, or he takes walk-ins all day long,” Surdyk said. “They’re a really great resource for residents to have that to access.”

Another training will be held in the future specifically for tenants, but Surdyk said they felt it was the right time for one for landlords to be held now.

Registration for the training is available online through a Google Form, or by emailing shaagsma@homeny.org for more information or with any questions.