The Urbana City Council is looking into a new safety-focused rental registration program that would call for an additional rental property inspector.

It also brings single-family homes and duplexes, previously not required to register, into the property registration program.

“Many units in Urbana are in deplorable condition,” said Susan Frobish, Urbana landlord. “However, only a few bad apples are to blame.”

Frobish outlined suggestions for a program that would reward good landlords with reduced registration fees and punish bad ones with fines. The council was receptive and requested that the city staff look into an incentive-based system.