(A) Purposes. This subchapter is intended to serve the following purposes:
(1) To assist the borough in protecting and promoting the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens;
(2) To establish rights and obligations of owners and occupants relating to the rental of certain residential units in the borough and to seek that owners and occupants properly maintain rental housing within the borough;
(3) To ensure that owners, managers and occupants share responsibilities to comply with codes, to prevent over-crowding and to avoid nuisances for neighboring residents; and
(4) To provide for a system of inspections; issuance and renewal of licenses; and establish penalties for violations.
(B) Findings. In considering the adoption of this subchapter, the borough makes the following findings.
(1) This subchapter is enacted under the authority of the Borough Code of Pennsylvania.
(2) There is a greater incidence and greater severity of violations of various codes of the borough at rental residential properties than at owner-occupied residential properties.
(3) There is a greater incidence of problems with the maintenance and upkeep of rental residential properties than at owner-occupied residential properties.
(4) There is a greater incidence of disturbances which adversely affect the peace and quiet of the neighborhood at rental residential properties than at owner-occupied residential properties.
(5) A systematic inspection process can avoid life-threatening problems, such as a lack of functioning smoke detectors.
(Ord. 1060, passed 4-15-2008)