(A) No equitable or legal owner of real estate within the city shall permit the real estate to be leased for any purpose, that includes any person using the premises as their living quarters until a registration receipt covering each rental unit in the building has been obtained.
(B) A registration receipt shall be obtained by applying for the receipt at the City Clerk-Treasurer's office. At the time application is made, the owner of the real estate shall supply the Clerk-Treasurer's office with the name of the owner, address of the owner, street address of the property being registered, the nature of the rental building or unit, the use to which the properly shall be put and any other information which the Clerk-Treasurer's office may require to aid the Clerk-Treasurer's office in carrying out the purpose of this chapter.
(C) After application for a registration receipt has been submitted to the Clerk-Treasurer, the Building Inspector shall conduct an inspection of each such rental unit to ascertain that the facility conforms to all requirements of this chapter, any applicable ordinance and all other applicable laws of the State of Indiana.
(D) After an inspection which shows that the rental unit conforms to all applicable ordinances and statutes, the Building Inspector shall issue to the owner of every registered rental unit an inspection certificate.
(E) The registration receipt applies to the rental unit and not to the owner of the property. However, within the 30 days of the sale of the equitable or legal title to any property registered under this chapter, any person acquiring equitable or legal title shall notify the Clerk-Treasurer's office of their name and address.
(F) Each owner of a rental unit warrants at each change of tenant that the rented unit meets the registration and inspection requirements set forth in this section and meets the minimum housing for the city, as set forth in this chapter. This warrant is implied in the very act of renting the unit and liability for it may not be removed by any act or agreement, either written or verbal, of either the owner or the prospective tenant.
(Ord. 19-1998, passed 10-5-98)