By Max Matavire

Irish property magnate Ken Denton says he will “fully co-operate” with tough new municipal by-laws that require landlords to take more responsibility for the state of their buildings.

The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality has proposed new draft by-laws clamping down on owners who allow their property to fall into a dilapidated, neglected or unsightly state.

The draft by-laws, to be opened for public participation at the end of this month, also call on landlords to look after their undeveloped and vacant properties by fencing them so that they are not vandalised or used as dumping sites.

The municipality says the new by-laws, if promulgated, will give it “teeth” and more power to prosecute offenders.

Asked to comment on the draft by-laws as they directly affect his many properties in Central, Denton yesterday welcomed the legislation, saying it was in everybody‘s interest that a well-managed municipality had a set of rules to properly manage the city.

“It is necessary to have such regulations in the city, and I am prepared to fully co-operate with the proposed by-laws,” he said.

Hill Improvement District chief executive John Preller also welcomed the proposed by-laws. “We now strongly urge the municipality to enforce the laws. We believe the time for talking is past, and it‘s now time for action.”

Councillor Terry Herbst also said the proposed bylaws were “good news”.

He would inquire why municipal manager Graham Richards had not taken action against Denton for the state of his properties.