The State College Borough Council did not act this week on a proposal to limit the number of houses converted into rental units.

Council members said they want more information before making a decision, said borough zoning officer Herman Slaybaugh.

Borough solicitor Terry Williams is examining the proposal and will probably report to council next month, borough Manager Peter Marshall said.

One option under the proposal would allow a conversion unit in one of every 20 lots, or every quarter mile, Slaybaugh said. The other option would limit the number of conversion units to 20 percent of all lots on a street, he added.

The limit on converted houses became an issue when neighborhood groups complained that students renting the houses were noisy and failed to take care of their property, Marshall said.

Homeowners fear the property value of their homes will decrease because students live nearby, he added.

Council member F. Dan Winand said the economic welfare of the borough depends on keeping property values up.

"You've (also) got to keep those people who are wage earners here," Winand said, referring to property owners who work in the community and pay income tax to the borough.

Limiting the number of converted houses should not affect students because no more than three unrelated people can live in any single-family dwelling or converted house, Slaybaugh said.

Council is also considering an ordinance increasing the frequency of inspections of converted houses. If this ordinance is passed, properties could be inspected every year, Slaybaugh said.

Properties are currently randomly inspected about once every five years, unless a neighbor suspects a violation and files a complaint with the zoning office, he said.

Winand said the borough may take over the inspections currently performed by the Centre Region Council of Governments.

"We must provide for the health, safety and welfare of our citizens," Winand said regarding the increase in the number of inspections.

A "grandfather clause" exempting certain properties from the law complicates enforcement, Slaybaugh said. Under the exemption, single-family homes converted into rental apartments before 1979 -- the year the number of unrelated people living in a single house was restricted -- can house more than three unrelated people, Slaybaugh said.

Despite problems with enforcement, some violators do get caught. The landlord or tenant responsible for the violation can be fined $500 a day by the borough until the property meets regulations, he said.