Town Meeting voters paved the way for new Board of Health regulations on rental properties, after approving the creation of a "revolving fund" that will collect the fees charged to landlords through the program.

"All we're asking for is for a revolving fund to be put up, and the money will come from the people who own the rentals," said Board of Health Chair Frank DeFelice. "The Board of Health gets more than 300 complaints a year about rentals that are substandard."

The revolving fund will be capped at $50,000. Should the fund exceed $50,000, the additional money will go into the town's general coffers.

Voters expressed some concern about how the regulations would impact both landlords and tenants, but debate on that was not allowed, as Town Meeting was only setting up the fund for the proposed fees.

Voters were advised that it would behoove them to attend future Board of Health meetings with any concerns they may have regarding the regulations.

The rental regulations are still in draft form, but if approved by the Board of Health, the regulations would require anybody who wishes to rent or lease a property or a portion of a property to register with the Board of Health at a cost of $100 per year. Any additional units owned by the same person at the same property would cost another $25 per unit.

The property owner would receive a certificate of registration, which they would be required to renew yearly. Property owners would be prohibited from renting or leasing without a certificate from the board.

Once registered, property owners would be scheduled for a State Sanitary Code Inspection.

If a property owner receives a written notice of violation from the Board of Health, they would have 30 days to correct it. Anybody who is found to be in violation of the new regulations would be subject to a $300 fine. Each day that the violation continues could be deemed a separate offense.

Under the State Sanitary Code, landlords are required to provide alternative housing immediately for tenants if they are shut down on the spot for more severe violations such as lack of heating, or a failed septic system. If landlords fail to fix the violations, under state law they can be subject to $10 to $500 per day in fines.

Anybody renting or leasing a dwelling would also be required to keep a register of names of renters. The owner would be required to make the register of names available to the Board of Health, health inspectors, police officers, and/or the town building inspector.

Property owners would also be responsible for installing and maintaining smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.

The proposal also addresses garbage. The owner of the property would be responsible for providing occupants with "receptacles with tight-fitting lids." The owner would also have to ensure that the odor of garbage is not detectable by people who live on the property, or from the street near the property.

Board of Health meetings are held Wednesdays at 4 p.m. in the Town Hall cafeteria. For more information, visit the town website at www.wareham.ma.us.

A previous Wareham Week article erroneously indicated that the Town Meeting vote would establish the regulations, but that is not the case. The proposed rental regulations will be voted upon by the Board of Health at a later date.