[Adopted 6-12-1990 by L.L. No. 16-1990[1] (Ch. 406, Art. II, of the 1985 Code)]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law was adopted by the Legislature
after disapproval by the County Executive on 5-31-1990.
A.
This Legislature hereby finds and determines that certain evils and
abuses exist which have caused many tenants, who are welfare recipients,
to suffer undue hardships, deprivation of services and deterioration
of housing facilities because certain landlords have been abusive
of such tenants by failure to make necessary repairs and to provide
necessary services.
B.
This Legislature further finds and determines that the abuses and
neglect by such landlords contribute to the deterioration of communities
within the County of Suffolk by fostering economic decline and devastation
that adversely affect property values.
C.
This Legislature also determines that town and village governments
are hampered in efforts to prosecute landlords for violations of municipal
building codes and zoning ordinances and to respond to emergency conditions
at such housing accommodations because of the surreptitious nature
in which many such landlords often conduct their business.
D.
Therefore, the purpose of this article is to impose a full disclosure
requirement on the County Department of Social Services with regard
to the ownership and identification of landlords providing housing
accommodations to recipients of public assistance and care paid for
by the County of Suffolk so as to assist municipalities in efforts
to compel the upgrading of such facilities.
A.
The County Department of Social Services shall maintain a written
record of the names and addresses of landlords providing housing accommodations
occupied by recipients of public assistance or care or their families,
the rental payments for which are provided by the County of Suffolk
in whole or in part, as follows:
(1)
In the case of a building owned by a person other than a corporation,
the name and residence address and phone number of at least one of
the owners, if any, who resides in the County.
(2)
In the case of a building owned by a person other than a corporation,
if none of the owners reside in the County, the name and residence
address and phone number of at least one of the owners and, in addition,
the name and residence address and phone number of any individual
residing in the County, if any, who manages or controls the building,
or the name and residence address and phone number of a principal
officer, if any, who resides in the County, of a corporation which
manages or controls the building.
(3)
In the case of a building owned by a corporation, the name and residence
address of the corporation and the name and residence address and
phone number of at least one of the principal officers of the corporation,
if any, who resides in the County.
(4)
In the case of a building owned by a corporation, and if none of
its principal officers reside in the County, the name and business
address and phone number of the corporation and, in addition, the
name and residence address and phone number of the individual who
manages or controls the building, or the name and residence address
and phone number of the principal officer of a corporation which manages
or controls the building.
B.
The information required by Subsection A of this section shall be made available on a quarterly basis to the municipal department having jurisdiction over local code enforcement for the municipality in which such housing accommodations are located.
C.
Landlords shall, upon request, provide the information required by
this section to the County Department of Social Services.
Any intentional or willful violation of § 696-7C of this article shall be punishable by a civil fine of $1,000 per violation.
This article shall apply to all placements of recipients of
public assistance or care in housing accommodations on or subsequent
to the effective date of this article.
