1341.06  GENERAL REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE SAFE AND SANITARY MAINTENANCE OF PARTS OF DWELLINGS AND DWELLING UNITS.
   No owner shall let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following requirements:
   (a)   Every foundation, roof, floor, exterior and interior wall, ceiling, inside and outside stair, every porch, and every appurtenance thereto, shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the loads that normal use may cause to be placed thereon; and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair. Every inside and outside stair or step shall have uniform risers and uniform treads.
   (b)   Every foundation, roof and exterior wall, door, skylight and window shall be reasonably weather-tight, water-tight and damp-free, and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair. Floors, interior walls and ceilings shall be sound and in good repair.  All interior walls, ceilings and floors shall have a uniform appearance both as to color and texture.  All exterior wood surfaces, other than decay resistant woods, shall be protected from the elements and decay by paint which is not lead-based paint or by other protective coverings or treatment.  All exterior walls and roofs shall have uniform appearance both in color and texture. Walls shall be capable of affording privacy for the occupants.
   (c)   Every premises shall be graded, drained, free of standing water, and maintained in a clean, sanitary and safe condition.
   (d)   Unless other provisions are made, gutters, leaders and down-spouts shall be provided and maintained in good working condition as to provide proper drainage of storm water.
   (e)   Every residential rental unit and/or accessory structure and the premises on which located shall be maintained in a rodent-free and rodent proof condition.
      (1)   All openings in the exterior walls, foundations, basements, ground or first floors and roofs which have a half-inch diameter or more opening shall be rodent-proofed in an approved manner if they are within forty-eight  inches of the existing exterior ground level immediately below such openings, or if they may be reached by rodents from the ground by climbing unguarded pipes, wires, cornices, stairs, roofs, and other items such as trees or vines or by burrowing.
      (2)   All windows located at or near ground level used or intended to be used for ventilation, all other openings located at or near ground level, and all exterior doorways which might provide an entry for rodents, shall be supplied with adequate screens or such other devices as will effectively prevent the entrance of rats into the structure.
      (3)   All sewers, pipes, drains or conduits and openings around such pipes and conduits shall be constructed to prevent the ingress or egress of rodents to or from a building.
      (4)   Interior floors of basements, cellars and other areas in contact with the soil shall be rodent-proofed in an approved manner.
      (5)   Materials stored outside the dwelling shall be stacked and elevated so that there will be at least an eighteen inch opening between the material and the ground level so as to prevent the creation of a rodent harborage area. No stacking or piling of material shall take place against the exterior walls of the structure.
      (6)   Any materials used for rodent-proofing shall be acceptable to the Windham Housing Inspector.
   (f)   Accessory structures present or provided by the owner, agent, or tenant occupant on the premises of a dwelling shall be structurally sound, and be maintained in good repair and free of insects and rats, or such structures shall be removed from the premises. The exterior of such structures shall be made weather resistant through the use of decay-resistant materials or the use of lead-free paint or other preservatives.
   (g)   Every plumbing fixture and all water and waste pipes shall be properly installed and maintained in good sanitary working condition.
   (h)   Every water closet compartment, bathroom and kitchen floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so as to be reasonably impervious to water and so as to permit such floor to be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
   (i)   Every plumbing fixture and pipe, every chimney, flue, and smoke pipe, and every other facility, piece of equipment, or utility which is present in a dwelling or dwelling unit, or which is required under this chapter, shall be constructed and installed in conformance with the appropriate statutes, ordinances and regulations of the Village of Windham, and the State of Ohio.
   (j)   No owner or operator of a rental unit shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility which is required under this chapter to be removed from or shut off from or discontinued for any occupied dwelling or dwelling unit let or occupied by him; except for such temporary interruption as may be necessary while actual repairs or alterations are in process, or during temporary emergencies when discontinuance of service is approved by the appropriate authority.
   (k)   All construction and materials, ways and means of egress, and installation and use of equipment shall conform with the appropriate statutes, ordinances, and regulations dealing with fire protection of the Village of Windham and the State of Ohio. 
(Ord. 1320.  Passed 12-12-89.)