Saturday, April 22, 2006
Those not in compliance could face misdemeanor charges.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
GIRARD -- City officials are discussing possible changes to the current rental inspection policy here, but inspectors are reminding landlords to abide by the current ordinance until changes are made.
Monica Rea, city rental clerk, said talks between council members and landlords about changes to the rental inspection ordinance have given some landlords the impression that the current ordinance will not be followed.
"We seem to be getting a lot of people not responding, so when the board of health met this week, it was decided to let everyone know it is still in effect," she said. "We think it is because they have heard that [the ordinance] may be changing and do not understand they still must comply until council would decide to change something in the ordinance."
According to the current ordinance, landlords are charged an annual registration fee of $12 per unit and an annual inspection fee of $50 for the first rental unit with an additional $10 for each additional unit. Those landlords needing to address violations and in need of additional inspections will be charged $50 per reinspection.
According to the ordinance, each unit must be inspected inside and out at least once a year.
Here are complaints
Landlords have complained about the intrusion of an annual inside inspection and the cost associated with the program.
Rea said anyone in violation of any part of the ordinance could be found guilty of a misdemeanor criminal offense. No one, she said, has been charged as of yet.
Councilman Michael Costarella has been heading the effort to change the current inspection policy. Costarella said he is hoping to propose something to the board of health at its May 16 meeting.
Potential new legislation suggested by Costarella last month would require landlords to pay one flat registration fee per unit per year, which would include two external inspections. If no violations are found on the first external inspection, officials would check the exterior of the building again in six months with no inside inspection. Costarella said research has shown that all landlords with inside violations also had outside violations.
If a violation is found during either of the two yearly inspections, the owner is given time to make repairs and schedule an inside/outside inspection. The landlord could eventually be cited into court if the violations are not corrected.
Under the potential legislation, the interior of a rental unit would be inspected only if there is an outside violation or each time a tenant moves out. The landlord would be charged a fee if the inside is inspected based on an outside violation. The landlord is also charged an occupancy change inspection fee only once a year, regardless of how many tenant changes there are.
Costarella and several other council members are also looking at ways to combine the rental inspection program and zoning in the city. Currently, zoning inspects owner-occupied dwellings, while rentals are inspected by the rental inspection department under the board of health.
jgoodwin@vindy.com