(A) License required.
(1) No owner or other person shall occupy or rent to another person any dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit unless it and the premises are clean, sanitary, fit for human occupancy and comply with all applicable legal requirements of the state, county and city, including the following requirements.
(2) No person, firm or corporation shall operate a rental dwelling unit without first having obtained a license to do so from the city as provided for in this section. Each license shall be issued bi-annually and shall expire on December 31 of the license term. License renewals for the following years shall be filed on or before November 1 prior to the license expiration date. The license renewal will take effect on January 1 of the new license term. The city will notify licensees by letter to renew the current licenses in October of the expiring year.
(a) Application. Applications for rental licenses shall be made in writing to the city by the owner of the rental dwelling unit(s) or his/her designated agent. The applicant shall supply:
1. The name, address and telephone number of the dwelling owner, the owning partners if a partnership and/or the corporate officers if a corporation.
2. The name, address and telephone number of the designated residential agent, if any.
3. The name, address and telephone number of the management representative.
4. The name, address and telephone number of the vendee, if the dwelling is being sold through a contract for deed.
5. The legal address of the dwelling.
6. The type of the dwelling.
7. The type and number of dwelling units within the dwelling.
8. Number of occupants.
9. A description of the procedure through which tenant inquiries and complaints are to be processed.
10. An acknowledgment that the owner or designated agent has received a copy of this section.
11. Certification of taxes and utilities paid: Prior to approving an application for a rental housing license, the property owner shall provide certification to the city that there are no delinquent property taxes, special assessments, interest, or city utility fees due upon the parcel of land to which the rental housing license application relates.
(b) Fees. License fees for renewal of licenses under this section shall be due with submission of the renewal application prior to November 1 of the expiring year for an effective date of January 1. The rental license fee will be established per the Waverly Fee Schedule. Fees for new licenses for less than two years will be prorated monthly.
(c) Inspection required. No license shall be issued or renewed under this section unless the rental dwelling and its premises conform to the ordinances of the city and the laws of the state. The city may require an inspection of such dwelling and premises to make that determination. Failure to schedule or allow such inspection shall be deemed a violation of this section and penalties as such will be assessed by the city.
(d) Posting of license. Every owner of a single family rental dwelling shall provide a copy of the license to each tenant. Each rental dwelling containing two or more units shall cause the current license to be conspicuously posted in the main entryway or other conspicuous location.
(B) Shared or public areas. Every owner of a dwelling containing two or more dwelling units shall maintain in a clean and sanitary condition of the shared or public areas of the dwelling and premises.
(C) Occupied areas. Every occupant of a dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit shall maintain in a clean and sanitary condition that part or those parts of the unit and premises that the occupant occupies and controls.
(D) Garbage and rubbish storage and disposal. Every occupant of a rental dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit shall store and dispose of all garbage and rubbish in a clean, sanitary and safe manner as provided by law. Every owner of a rental dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit shall supply facilities for the sanitary and safe storage and/or disposal of garbage and rubbish. That cost may be part of the occupant's expense as provided by agreement of the parties.
(E) Storm and screen doors and windows. The owner of a rental dwelling unit shall be responsible for maintaining in good repair all screens, storm doors and storm windows when required under the provisions of this chapter, except where there is written agreement otherwise between the owner and occupant and except for the intentional or neglectful action of the occupant.
(F) Pest extermination. Every occupant of a rental dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of vermin infestations and/or rodents on the premises. Every occupant of a dwelling unit in a rental dwelling containing more than one dwelling unit shall be responsible for such extermination whenever the occupant’s dwelling unit is the only one infested. Whenever infestation is caused by the failure of the owner to maintain a rental dwelling in a reasonable rodent-proof or reasonable vermin-proof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner. Whenever infestation exists in two or more of the dwelling units in any rental dwelling, or in the shared or public parts of any dwelling containing two or more dwelling units, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner.
(G) Rodent harborages and food. No owner or occupant of a rental dwelling unit shall accumulate or be allowed to accumulate boxes, lumber, wood, scrap metal or any other similar materials in such a manner that may provide a rodent harborage in or about any rental dwelling unit. Stored materials shall be stacked neatly in piles at least ten feet away from any dwelling unit and one foot above the ground. No owner or occupant of a rental dwelling unit shall store, place or be allowed to accumulate any materials that may serve as food for rodents in a site accessible to rodents.
(H) Fixtures and facilities. Every occupant of a rental dwelling unit shall keep all supplied fixtures and facilities in a safe, clean and sanitary condition and shall be responsible for the exercise of reasonable care in the proper use and operation thereof.
(I) Snow and ice removal. The owner of a multiple family dwelling shall be responsible for the removal of snow and ice from the parking lots, driveways, steps and walkways on the premises within a reasonable amount of time to provide access for fire and medical personnel.
(J) Minimum exterior lighting. The owner of a multiple family rental dwelling shall be responsible for providing and maintaining effective illumination in all exterior parking lots and walkways.
(K) Driving and parking areas. The owner of a multiple family rental dwelling unit shall be responsible for providing and maintaining in good condition parking areas and driveways for tenants.
(L) Yards. The owner of a multiple family rental dwelling shall be responsible for providing and maintaining premises in a safe and sanitary manner.
(Ord. 08-04, passed 10-14-08; Am. Ord. 12-03, passed 8-8-12) Penalty, see § 116.99