(A) No owner of real estate within the city shall permit the real estate to be leased for any purpose until a rental certification for each tenant space in a building has been obtained.
(B) A rental certification shall be obtained by making an application, on forms provided by the city, at the Office of the Code Enforcement Officer, and by paying an annual certification fee of $100 for each tenant space. The fees shall be submitted at the time the application is made. At the time application is made, the owner of the real estate shall supply their mailing address, street address of the property beingcertified, the nature of the rental building, or unit, and any other information which may be required to assist in the inspection, and enforcement of this subchapter.
(C) The owner or the owner’s representative shall be entitled to 72 hours’ written notice from the Code Enforcement Officer prior to conducting an inspection. In the event the owner, or the tenant, if occupied, refuses to allow the inspection, the Code Enforcement Officer shall apply for a warrant to make the inspection.
(D) After an inspection is complete, and the tenant space is determined to be in compliance with this subchapter, the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue to the owner a certificate.
(E) Each certificate shall be valid for a period of two years, unless the tenant space becomes vacant or the tenant changes at which time the rental certificate becomes void and a new rental certification application shall be filed along with the appropriate application fee. Certificates shall be renewed by its expiration date by submitting the application fee to the Office of the Code Enforcement Officer. In the event that the application fee is not paid within 30 days after the expiration date, a late fee of $100 shall be assessed, and the renewal will be retroactive to the prior expiration date. Certificates issued shall be valid for specified period commencing on the anniversary date of the original expiration date, and not as of the date of payment. Payment of the certificate fee shall not be considered a defense to any action filed by the city to enforce the provisions of this subchapter if such action was filed prior to payment of the application fee.
(F) The rental certification applies to the tenant space and not to the owner of the property. However, within 30 days of the sale of equitable or legal title to any property certified under this subchapter, any person acquiring equitable or legal title shall notify the Code Enforcement Officer of their name, mailing address, and the address of the property acquired. No new application fee shall be due until the expiration date of the current certification.
(G) Each owner of a rental space warrants at each change of tenant that the rental space meets the certification, and inspection requirements set forth in this subchapter. This warrant is implied in the very act of leasing the tenant space, 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. 2015-03, passed 4-7-2015) Penalty, see § 154.99