[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Maybrook 7-11-2005
by L.L. No. 10-2005. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Board of Trustees acknowledges that the safety of residents of multifamily
dwellings depends on regular inspections to assure building and fire code
compliance. Turnover of tenants in these structures may lead to faster deterioration
of the structure and mechanical systems, which, in some cases, may go undetected
even by the building owner. The Village of Maybrook, therefore, has determined
to enact this chapter to provide for more routine inspections of such dwellings
in the interest of public safety.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following words shall have the
meanings ascribed to them by this section:
Any building with two or more apartments for residential use.
An apartment within a dwelling, separated from other units.
A.
The Building Inspector or any other authorized inspector
shall be authorized and have the right, in the performance of his duties,
to enter any premises during normal business hours in emergencies whenever
necessary to protect the public interest.
B.
Owners, agents, property managers and occupants of dwellings
shall provide access to all parts of the premises within their control to
authorized personnel acting in the performance of their duties when requested
to do so.
C.
It shall be the obligation of the owner, prior to the
change of tenants of a dwelling unit or the vacancy of such dwelling unit,
to notify the Building Department, in writing, of the vacancy or change of
tenant of such dwelling unit that is subject to the provisions of this section.
Prior to the time when a dwelling unit subject to the provisions of this section
is to become occupied for residential purposes by a new tenant, the owner
or manager of such building shall give the new tenant a notice, on a form
approved and issued by the Building Department, that the tenant agrees to
permit access to the Building Inspector of the tenant's apartment when
an appointment is made by the owner for an inspection of the entire building
by the Building Inspector. The tenant will sign the notice and the owner or
manager shall deliver the executed notice to the Building Department. If the
tenant fails to execute such notice, or denies access to the Inspector to
the apartment, then such occupancy shall be a violation of this chapter, and
the tenant may be subject to prosecution or civil enforcement.
D.
The Building Department shall inspect multifamily buildings,
containing two or more dwelling units, once every year.
A.
Owners of dwellings shall be responsible for compliance
with the applicable housing standards and shall remain responsible therefor,
regardless of the fact that this chapter may also place certain responsibilities
on property managers and occupants, regardless of any agreements between owners
and property managers or occupants as to which party shall bear such responsibility.
B.
Owners of premises shall be responsible for proper maintenance,
condition and operation of service facilities and for furnishing adequate
heat and hot-water supply in multiple-dwellings.
Any person committing an offense against any provision of this chapter shall be punishable as provided for in § 1-14 of this Code, in addition to civil enforcement and injunctive relief.
