A. 
Owners of residential rental property that is located in the Village shall complete and sign a registration form provided by the Code Enforcement Office. The form shall indicate the name, physical address, and telephone number of each owner; the number and address of each rental dwelling for which a rental permit is sought, the number of dwelling units contained within each rental dwelling, whether the premises are governed by a written lease or an oral lease, daytime and evening telephone numbers of the owner, the maximum number of tenants, and any other pertinent data sought by the Code Enforcement Officer. The owner shall sign a statement affirming whether a written lease is in effect, and, if applicable, that the written lease contains a notice provision pursuant to § 96-31. The form shall indicate an address for receipt of notices by mailing under this chapter. The permittee shall be responsible for timely updating such information in the event that changed circumstances would render the information in the registration form inaccurate.
B. 
Owners of residential rental property located in the Village who reside in any county other than Livingston County or contiguous counties shall provide the Code Enforcement Office with the name and physical address of an individual over the age of 18 who shall reside in Livingston County or any county contiguous thereto and who shall be designated as agent for receiving mailed notice or service of process. Such agent shall be deemed to have the rights and responsibilities of a permittee for the purposes of this chapter. A new permittee shall provide the information required in this subsection within five days from the date of any change of ownership.
No owner shall rent, let, lease, or otherwise allow the occupancy of any rental building or structure unless that owner holds a valid rental permit. No violations of this section shall issue before one year after the effective date of this chapter.
A. 
Rental inspection fees and reinspection fees will be charged in the amount set forth in the Schedule of Fees adopted by the Village Board by resolution.
B. 
Rental permits will be issued for thirty-six-month periods and shall be valid for such periods unless invalidated or revoked as provided in this chapter.
C. 
Permits will be issued when all requirements of this chapter have been met.
D. 
Newly constructed or renovated rental structures will be required to pay a registration fee in the amount set forth in the Schedule of Fees adopted by the Board by resolution when the rental permit is issued.
A. 
At least 30 days prior to initial occupancy, or 30 days prior to the expiration date of a current permit, whichever is applicable, the owner or agent of a rental property shall apply to the Code Enforcement Office for inspection of the structure and all units therein. The owner of the property shall be required to sign and return the application along with the applicable fee, which will include the information required by § 96-21 of this chapter.
B. 
The Code Enforcement Officer shall inspect the property subject to the requirements set forth in § 96-27. If the property is in compliance with this chapter, the permit will be issued.
If the Code Enforcement Officer determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that premises are being maintained in violation of this chapter, that Officer shall give notice of the alleged violation to the owner of the premises and contain the elements required of an information under § 100.15 of the Criminal Procedure Law. Such notice shall:
A. 
Be in writing;
B. 
Include a description of the real estate sufficient for identification;
C. 
Describe the violation, cite the applicable section of the local law and/or Uniform Code and remedial action required;
D. 
Describe the facts under which the violation is based;
E. 
State that all health, safety and maintenance violations must be corrected immediately. The Code Enforcement Officer shall return at a specified date to verify conformance with the order to remedy. Any maintenance items which cannot be completed at this time because of weather constraints may be granted a time extension. Time extensions are to be negotiated with the owner/agent of the property and the inspector.
F. 
State that, if upon reinspection a violation still exists, the Code Enforcement Officer shall order that the rental permit be suspended and the structure vacated.
G. 
Be mailed via first class, registered or certified mail to the permittee or served upon any other person in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law.
H. 
State the time to file an appeal, the amount of the appeal fee, the right to call witnesses and the right to be represented by counsel.
Unless there are significant health or safety issues, if the property has a valid rental permit, a tenant must first complain to the owner or agent. Forms for that purpose may be obtained from the Code Enforcement Office; however, there is no obligation for a tenant to use such forms.
A. 
An owner or agent must remedy or otherwise address the complaint within a reasonable period of time under the circumstances. If the complaint is not remedied to the tenant's satisfaction within seven calendar days, the tenant may schedule an inspection appointment with the Code Enforcement Officer, who shall give reasonable advance notice to the owner's agent. If violations are found, an inspection fee in accordance with § 96-23 shall be charged.
B. 
No person shall maintain an action for eviction because the occupant has reported a violation of this chapter or a related provision of the Village Code to the Code Enforcement Officer or other Village employee.
C. 
No person shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility required under this chapter to be removed, shut off or discontinued in retaliation for a complaint.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall have the right to inspect all or any part of rental dwellings or units, provided that the tenant has consented, except that in the event that the owner is not a permittee, then the owner, agent or person in charge thereof shall have the right to insist upon the procurement of a search warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction in order to enable such inspection. The officials charged with conducting the inspection pursuant to this chapter shall be required to obtain a search warrant in the event that they are unable to obtain the consent of the owner if the owner is not a permittee, and, in all circumstances, a tenant with common authority over the premises to be searched after such tenant has been advised that he or she has a constitutional right to refuse entry of the officials without a search warrant. The Code Enforcement Officer is authorized, on sworn affidavit stating the factual bases therefor, to make application to the Village Court of Geneseo or to such other court as may be deemed appropriate for the issuance of an administrative search warrant. The search warrant may be executed by the Code Enforcement Officer only in the case of permittees and, in all other cases, by a peace officer who may be accompanied by the Code Enforcement Officer in order to conduct an inspection of any premises covered by this chapter where the occupant refuses or fails, after due notice as provided herein, to allow an inspection of the dwelling unit or premises, where there is reasonable cause to believe that a violation of this chapter or a violation of the Multiple Residence Law, the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code or the Code of the Village of Geneseo exists, or where there is reasonable cause for inspection. The application for a search warrant shall, in all respects, comply with applicable laws of the State of New York and the United States.
The rental permit issued under this chapter shall contain the following information:
A. 
The address, type of structure, and structure classification.
B. 
The date of inspection.
C. 
The date of issuance.
D. 
The expiration date.
E. 
Number of dwelling units.
F. 
A statement, where applicable under this chapter, that the structure cannot be inhabited by more than four nonfamily persons as defined in this chapter.
G. 
A statement indicating whether the structure is equipped with a fire alarm system.
H. 
A statement indicating whether the structure is equipped with a sprinkler system.
A. 
A current rental permit issued under this chapter shall be invalidated by sale or transfer of the property.
B. 
The owner of a rental building or structure shall conspicuously display a copy of the rental permit on the main entrance door of each building, or in a common area immediately adjacent thereto.
A. 
A seller of a rental property, including property occupied under authority of an unrecorded contract for sale, shall inform the prospective buyer of the following at least 14 days prior to the closing:
(1) 
Current status of the rental permit.
(2) 
Any outstanding notice regarding violations of the Geneseo Rental Housing Law.
(3) 
The existence of any court or administrative proceeding which pertains to alleged violations of the Geneseo Rental Housing Law, stating the case numbers and names of all parties to the proceedings.
B. 
Every seller of a rental property shall give notice in writing to the Code Enforcement Office within two business days after closing. This notice shall include the name and address of the buyer.
C. 
Each buyer of an interest in rental property shall give notice in writing to the Code Enforcement Officer within 10 business days after closing. The notice shall identify the address of the affected property, the name and address of all parties named in the contract, and the interests in the property conveyed or received by each party. The buyer shall also provide a copy of the deed, showing the date, book, and page within 10 days of recording.
D. 
Any unpaid fines shall run with the land and shall be enforceable against the subsequent owner of the property.
All written rental agreements for rental buildings or structures within the Village of Geneseo must contain the following language in ten-point or larger type:
"Please take notice that you and the landlord each have certain rights and responsibilities under Chapter 96 of the Village of Geneseo Code, (Village of Geneseo Rental Housing Law), a copy of which is available in the Village Hall, 119 Main Street, Geneseo, New York, 14454."
A. 
Only in the event that the rules herein are inconsistent with the remainder of this chapter, the rules in this section shall prevail. None of the rules in this section shall be extended beyond the transition period except by resolution of the Board of Trustees.
B. 
Owners of rental buildings or structures existing on the date of adoption of this chapter or existing hereafter must register within one year from the effective date of this chapter in accordance with § 96-21. Upon receipt of a completed registration form, the Code Enforcement Officer will review the form and, if, on this basis the premises appear to be substantially in compliance with the requirements of this chapter, shall issue a temporary rental permit.
C. 
The temporary rental permit shall be effective until the first of the following has occurred:
(1) 
One year shall have elapsed from the date of issuance of the temporary rental permit;
(2) 
The Code Enforcement Officer has inspected the rental building or structure and has issued a rental permit as a result of such inspection;
(3) 
The Code Enforcement Officer has inspected the premises and has served upon the owner a written denial, setting forth the bases therefor; or
(4) 
The Village has revoked the temporary rental permit for cause pursuant to § 96-17.
D. 
No holder of a temporary rental permit shall be liable for failure to register in accordance with § 96-21 until one year from the effective date of this chapter.
E. 
No owner shall be liable for renting premises in violation of this chapter under the terms of a written lease that was in effect at the date of enactment, provided that the lease and the occupancy complied with applicable law in existence prior to such date. This exception shall not apply to renewals of existing leases.