(a) The Office of Housing Inspection shall be charged with the duty of administering the applicable housing standards and securing compliance therewith, and shall be empowered to adopt rules and regulations necessary for securing such compliance and for its own organization and internal management, provided that such rules and regulations shall not be in conflict with the applicable housing standards.
(b) The Office of Housing Inspection shall be authorized to conduct surveys of housing in any area of this Municipality to determine the condition of premises, the extent of deterioration, the lack of facilities, inadequate maintenance, unsafe and insanitary conditions, the extent of overcrowding, land use and other relevant factors.
(c) It shall be the duty of the Housing Inspector to:
(1) Cause periodic inspections to be made not less than once every five years, of all premises within the scope of applicable housing standards;
(2) Cause an investigation of all complaints of alleged housing violations or other unsafe or insanitary conditions;
(3) Order in writing the remedying of all conditions found to exist in or on any premises in violation of provisions of the housing standards or of rules and regulations, adopted by the Office of Housing Inspection, to state in the violation order a reasonable time limit for compliance therewith, and where necessary, order the vacation of premises found unfit for human habitation;
(4) Request the Law Director, to take appropriate legal action in the name of the Office of Housing Inspection upon failure of the responsible party to comply with such violation order within the time specified therein;
(5) Cause a search of the Office of Housing Inspection records of housing violations existing on any premises and issue a certified statement thereof upon receipt of written request and payment of any fees required by local law or ordinance;
(6) Study housing conditions in this Municipality;
(7) Cooperate with other municipal, governmental and private agencies engaged in the study and improvement of housing conditions; and
(8) Publish an annual report of housing conditions in the Municipality, accomplishments of the Office of Housing Inspection and recommendations for the future.
(d) Where violations of the housing standards exist and pose an immediate hazard or danger to the health, safety or welfare of building occupants or of the public, the Housing Inspector may issue an order citing the violation and directing such action by such municipal agency as is necessary to remove or abate the immediate hazard or danger.
(e) Whenever the Housing Inspector determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision of this Housing Code, he shall give notice of such alleged violation to the person or persons responsible therefor, as hereinafter provided.
(1) Such notice shall:
A. Be put in writing;
B. Include a statement of the reasons why it is being issued;
C. Allow a reasonable time for the performance of any act it requires;
D. Be served upon the owner or his agent or the occupant, as the case may require. Such notice shall be deemed to be properly served upon such owner or agent, or upon such occupant, if a copy thereof is served upon him personally; or if a copy thereof is sent by registered mail to his last known address; or if a copy thereof is posted in a conspicuous place in or about the dwelling affected by the notice;
or if he is served with such notice by any other method authorized or required under the laws of this State.
(2) Such notice may contain an outline of remedial action which, if taken, will effect compliance with the provisions of this Housing Code.
(f) The Office of Housing Inspection shall keep records of all complaints received, inspections made and violations found regarding premises regulated by the housing standards. Records shall be kept in a manner and form as prescribed by local law, and shall be available for public inspection.