Section 20.05.080 Responsibilities of landlords.

It is the duty and responsibility of owners and landlords of dwellings and dwelling units to comply with the following:

1. No owner or landlord shall occupy or let another person occupy, any dwelling or dwelling unit unless it meets all minimum safety and sanitation requirements stated in this code.

2. Every landlord with property containing two or more dwelling units must maintain the shared or public area of the dwelling and the premises in a clean and sanitary condition.

3. Every landlord must maintain and supply facilities or refuse containers of adequate capacity for the sanitary and safe storage and/or disposal of rubbish and garbage generated from each dwelling unit. The landlord and the tenant of a single family dwelling unit may agree that the tenant will provide the necessary containers.

4. The landlord is responsible to provide and install all screens and storm doors and windows whenever they are required under the provisions of this code or any code adopted by reference, unless there is a written agreement between the landlord and tenant which provides otherwise. In the absence of such an agreement, maintenance or replacement of screens, storm doors and windows, once installed, become the responsibility of the tenant. The tenant’ s responsibility is for his or her dwelling unit only.

5. Every landlord is responsible to provide heating equipment with the capability of providing heat to every dwelling unit such that a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit can be maintained in all habitable rooms and bathrooms throughout the heating season.

6. Every landlord must maintain all dwellings units reasonably free from health hazards due to the presence of toxic substances such as lead-based paint. Tenants are responsible to maintain their units in a safe condition by proper cleaning, protecting painted areas from abuse and damage, and by promptly reporting all damaged areas to the landlord. (Ord. 2001-0563)