Proposed Rental Inspection
First Public Hearing: September 14, 2010
Second Public Hearing: October 12, 2010
The Second Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Interior Rental Inspections Will Take Place on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 / 5:30 P.M.
At the Springfield Township Administration Complex
(Allen Paul Room)
9150 Winton Road
(Springfield Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, October 6, 2010)The Springfield Township Board of
Trustees will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on October 12th in
the in the Administration Building, 9150 Winton Road on a proposed
resolution amending the Township's Property Maintenance Code to include
interior maintenance regulations for rental properties. The proposed
interior regulations, if adopted, will only apply to single family and duplex
residential rental structures
and the existing premises on which those structures are located.
The rental inspection program is in response to the growing concern regarding the
increase of rental properties in the Township and absentee landlords. If
adopted, landlords will be held responsible for basic health and safety
standards on their properties and would be required to have annual interior
inspections conducted to ensure compliance with the interior maintenance
standards.
The Board of Trustees regular meeting will be held at the conclusion of the public hearing.
Rental Inspection Program Frequently Asked Questions
Over the past several years, the number of single family homes which have been converted to rental properties has increased significantly. The Rental Inspection Program is being proposed to ensure that these properties are safe, habitable, and sanitary. In this manner, the Program is a measure to ensure the public health, safety and welfare of Springfield Township residents by ensuring that residents who wish to live in rental properties have a safe and sanitary housing choice and by ensuring that rental properties are properly maintained so as to not diminish the property values of the surrounding residential properties. The Rental Inspection Program, as proposed, will require landlords to obtain a permit and be subjected to an interior home inspection prior to leasing single-family and duplex rental properties in Springfield Township. The program was supported by the Neighborhood Master Plan Steering Committee, which is made up of more than 80 Township residents.
The majority of concerns raised by residents involve single-family rental units and not the larger multi-family apartment complexes. Additionally, unlike most single-family and duplex rental properties which are managed by absentee property owners, most multi-family complexes have on-site or a local management company ensuring that the exterior and interior of the units are being maintained. For these reasons, the Township has proposed to utilize its limited resources to eliminate the most prominent maintenance concerns, the single-family and duplex rental properties.
3. What types of maintenance issues will be subject to review and inspection as part of enforcing the proposed Code?
The proposed Rental Inspection Program requires inspections based upon the Springfield Township Property Maintenance Code. The Property Maintenance Code was initially adopted to ensure that the exterior of all properties is maintained in accordance with minimum maintenance requirements. The proposed Amendments to the Property Maintenance Code establish maintenance requirements for the interior of single-family and duplex rental properties. All of the exterior and interior maintenance requirements of the Property Maintenance Code, as adopted and as proposed, are taken directly from a nationally recognized property maintenance code drafted by the International Code Council (“ICC”). This ICC Code regulates conditions and maintenance of property and buildings by providing standards for mechanical, electrical, plumbing facilities, and general sanitation conditions essential to ensure that structures are safe, sanitary and fit for habitation and use.4. Do tenants have any responsibility to maintaining properties or does compliance with the Code rest solely with the property owner?
The proposed Amendments to the Property Maintenance Code do specify that several compliance standards are the responsibility of the tenant, such as keeping the interior and exterior of the structure in a clean and sanitary condition. Additionally, the tenant is responsible for ensuring that the interior of the structure is free of rodents and pest infestation.5. How often will inspections be required?
Inspections will be required annually and upon tenant changes and complaints by tenants. The property owner will be required to obtain a rental permit from the Township, which will be valid for one year from the date issued at a cost of $50.00.All violations will be documented in writing and provided to the property owner and/or tenant. A deadline will be established to achieve compliance with the Code and if, upon re-inspection, the violation has not been abated, the property owner and/or tenant may be subject to citation.
7. How will this program benefit landlords?
Landlords will benefit through this program in several ways. Landlords will be able to attract new tenants by marketing the fact that they have successfully completed the required inspections and have received a permit to rent their property. It is entirely possible that the existence of the Program may assist landlords in attracting more responsible tenants who appreciate the landlord’s efforts to maintain the property and who are willing to accept their maintenance responsibilities as outlined in the Property Maintenance Code. Landlords should also be able to retain their current tenants more effectively by ensuring that their property is maintained to the standards established in the Property Maintenance Code. In addition, landlords may be able to utilize the issued permit and the inspections performed pursuant to this program as a defense in tenant actions to escrow rent and as proof of tenant misconduct in difficult eviction cases.· Download and view the proposed property maintenance code with the interior rental inspection amendments in red.
· Download and view the proposed Rental Inspection Plan.
