Mt. Lebanon makes changes to property inspection ordinance
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Spurred by outcries and disapproval by landlords and renters, Mt. Lebanon commissioners held a public hearing for the second draft of a newly-introduced ordinance that requires owners of multiple unit buildings to register their properties with the municipality and undergo regular inspections.
The second public hearing was held at the commissioners’ April 9 meeting. The first public hearing for the introduction of the ordinance was held on Feb. 25.
Changes to the ordinance include dividing the municipality into three zones, with one zone being inspected each year. Fees will also be reduced for inspections of multiple units in the same building on the same day. The new fee system is $65 for the first inspection of a unit, and $15 for the following inspections to the units in the same building on the same day. Inspections will not be required for change of occupancy.
“We have on record landlords that are not in compliance with our safety codes,” commissioner Kristen Linfante said. “Clearly, there are problems out there. This is why we want this ordinance in place. We want our residents to be safe.”
The bill was introduced Feb. 12 after Mt. Lebanon Fire Chief Nick Sohyda voiced concerns about safety hazards inside individual apartments in the municipality. According to Mt. Lebanon Inspection Officer Joseph Berkley, there are 2,800 individual apartment units in Mt. Lebanon, and during the past five years, only 40 percent of the units were found to have working smoke detectors.
And while landlords in Mt. Lebanon appreciate the changes made to the ordinance, some still feel the program is not needed.
“The fire department checks our buildings every year and our insurance companies are more strict than this ordinance,” landlord Bruce Barcic said. “I see their point but I don’t think it’s necessary. This is just another layer of bureaucracy and just another headache.”
Linfante said it’s not known when the ordinance will be voted upon.
“There’s a discrepancy in the message we’re receiving from landlords,” Linfante said. “They say this is an invasion of privacy to the tenants, but they’re willing to let inspectors in if the fees are reduced. This isn’t finished by any means.”