Problematic properties: Ottawa councillor wants city to crack down on derelict addresses [Video]

An Ottawa city councillor wants the city to do more to crackdown on derelict properties that are the subject of frequent safety concerns and complaints to the city.

Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stephanie Plante has put forward a motion to be tabled at Thursday’s emergency preparedness committee meeting that would see the city follow in the footsteps of cities like Edmonton that have created a “problematic properties” webpage.

This allows residents to report addresses to the city that have a history of recurring violations relating to safety, fire risk, building codes or illegal activity.

Plante says there has been an increase in the number of occupied or unoccupied derelict properties in all parts of the city.

“We have a lot of properties where someone owns it, but they’re not taking ownership of the property itself,” Plante said Monday on Newstalk 580 CFRA.

“They sort of think that ‘I’m the property manager’ so they’re letting things like grass grow and they’re letting …