(a) Whenever any owner or agent of any building in the City of Marmet shall rent, lease, or hire out to be occupied in a building or part there as a home or residence for more than two families living independently of one another, or a building giving to each family or person the common right to halls, yards, water closets, privies, or some of them, then such owner or agent shall be liable for the condition of such halls, yards, water closets, privies, etc. so that they do not constitute a nuisance or hazard to the health or safety of the public, or of any person, and the owner or agent may also be made a defendant in a prosecution for the violation of any of the provisions of this article, and be subject to penalty the same as the occupant of the premises, and any prosecution for the violation of this article may be made against the owner, occupants, or agents of the premises, or either or all of those parties.
(b) The owners or agents shall only be held responsible under the provisions of this section where buildings are rented to different persons as described herein.