Whenever any owner or agent of the owner of any building shall rent, lease or hire out to be occupied any building or part or parts thereof as a home or residence for more than one family living independently of one another, or a building to different persons for stores and offices in said building, giving to each the common right to halls, yards, water closets or privies, or some of them, then such owner or agent shall be liable for the conditions of said halls, yards, water closets, or privies, and the said owner or agent may be made defendant in a prosecution for the violation of the provisions hereof. (1958 Code, ch. X, art. 3, sec. 4)