Minimum Housing Standards

Every citizen, whether a homeowner or tenant, has a responsibility to keep his residence in safe and sanitary condition. The Minimum Housing Code sets forth certain responsibilities for owners and tenants.

Basic Responsibilities as an Owner

• To keep the dwelling in good structural condition;
• To provide adequate plumbing, hot water, lighting, and ventilation;
• To provide adequate and safe space heating in dwellings built after March 17, 1969. In dwellings built before that date, only adequate utility connections must be available for space heating equipment;
• To provide adequate and safe electrical outlets and light fixtures;
• To protect with paint or other suitable material on all exterior surfaces subject to deterioration such as wood trim and siding;
• To provide sufficient garbage and trash facilities;
• To exterminate rodents and insects;
• To control the occupancy of each dwelling to prevent overcrowding;
• To provide maintenance and correct sanitation problems for which the owner is responsible;
• To inform the tenants of the person to contact in case of emergencies.

Basic Responsibilities as a Tenant

• To keep the dwelling clean and sanitary;
• To exercise careful and proper use of the facilities supplied by the owner;
• To keep the plumbing free from obstructions;
• To eliminate rodents or insects in your dwelling;
• To dispose of garbage and trash properly;
• To avoid doubling-up on occupancy and overcrowding;
• To avoid keeping pets in a manner which creates unsanitary conditions or a nuisance;
• To provide access for inspection of your dwelling by department staff;
• To not use unsafe cooking equipment; and
• To not use unsafe space heating equipment. Tenants are responsible for providing adequate and safe heating equipment in dwellings built before March 17, 1969 and the owner must provide the proper utility connections for the heating equipment.

If you have a complaint about conditions in your rented dwelling, you should first notify the owner, manager or rent collector.

Should the problem not be corrected within a reasonable time, call 311 and tell them about the problem. When you call, be sure to tell them when someone will be home to let the Neighborhood Compliance Officer in.

The Officer will determine what action is necessary to correct the problem. Often, the officer's phone call to the owner or landlord is all that is necessary, but a complete inspection of the entire building may be required.

If necessary, the owner will be notified of the Minimum Housing Code Violations that he must correct. You as the tenant may also be notified of any violations that are your responsibility to correct.

Sometimes, houses and apartments become so rundown that they must be condemned. This means they are no longer fit to live in, and the occupants must move.

The condemnation of a building is a very serious matter and is usually taken as a last resort when all other efforts to improve conditions have failed. When Neighborhood Compliance Officers condemn a building, the owner and the tenants are notified in writing of this action, and a sign is tacked to the building, which says the dwelling is not fit for human habitation and cannot be occupied.

If your house or apartment is condemned for any reason, you may be eligible for priority relocation assistance in finding more suitable housing.

If your house or apartment has been condemned, or if the landlord tells you to move so he can comply with an order to repair or demolish his building, or because you are overcrowding the unit, you are eligible for certain relocation assistance. Call the Homeless Helpline at 1-877-994-HELP to ask for assistance.

You may be interested in relocation to a public housing project. If so, your relocation worker will tell you if you can get in and what projects have vacant apartments. If you have a steady job and good credit, you may qualify to buy your own home with a very small down payment.

Remember these important things:

• Complaints of housing conditions can be reported by calling 311
• The tenant, as well as the owner, has a responsibility to take care of his dwelling
• If your landlord asks you to move so that he can make necessary repairs or demolish the building, then you may be entitled to assistance in finding other housing