(a) The purpose of this article and the resulting policy of the City of South Charleston (hereinafter, the “City”) shall be to protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens, to establish rights and obligations of owners and occupants relating to residential rental units in the City and to encourage owners and occupants to maintain and improve the quality of rental housing within the community. As a means to these ends, this article provides for standards for obtaining a license to rent residential units, an inspection program, and penalties for non- compliance.
(b) In considering the adoption of this article, the City makes the following general findings:
(1) There is a growing concern in the community with the general decline in the physical condition of residential rental units;
(2) There is a greater incidence of problems with the maintenance and upkeep of residential properties which are not owner-occupied as compared to those that are owner-occupied;
(3) There are a greater number of disturbances at residential rental units than owner occupied units; and
(4) Code violations are generally more severe at residential rental units as compared to owner-occupied units.
(Ord. 2116. Passed 12-18-08.)