No owner, agent or person in charge of a dwelling or dwelling
unit offered for rent shall allow any person to occupy the same as
a tenant or lessee or for a valuable consideration unless he holds
a valid certificate of compliance issued by the Department of Development
and Enforcement for the specific dwelling or dwelling unit. Every
certificate of compliance shall expire at the end of two years following
the date of issuance unless the unit is rated as "exceeds standards,"
in which case the certificate of compliance expires five years following
date of issuance. The "exceeds standards" category rating is based
upon the unit receiving an "exceeds standards" overall rating in the
three critical inspection categories of exterior, dwelling unit and
landlord cooperation.
Upon request of the owner, agent or other person authorized
to rent a dwelling unit (hereinafter referred to as the "applicant"),
the Director of Development and Enforcement or his designated agent
will be available at an appointed time, within 48 hours, agreed upon
by himself and the applicant, or later if the applicant requests,
to inspect such dwelling or dwelling unit. If such inspection establishes
that the dwelling or dwelling unit is in substantial compliance with
the Housing Code, he shall issue a certificate of compliance for said
dwelling or dwelling unit. One copy of the certificate of compliance
shall be handed to or sent to the applicant; a second copy shall be
posted by the owner or his designated agent in a conspicuous location
inside the dwelling or dwelling unit for the information of the tenant
and shall not be removed by or at the direction of anyone other than
the tenant; and a third copy shall be kept on file in the files of
the Department of Development and Enforcement.
If said dwelling or dwelling unit does not comply with the Housing
Code standards, the Director of Development and Enforcement or his
designated agent shall furnish the applicant with a written list of
the specific violations which would have to be corrected before a
certificate of compliance could be issued for the dwelling or dwelling
unit. Upon the representation of the applicant that the listed violations
have been corrected, the Director of Development and Enforcement or
his designated agent shall reinspect said dwelling or dwelling unit
and issue a certificate of compliance or a list of violations, as
above provided.
Any applicant who is delayed in correcting violations necessary
to entitle him to a certificate of compliance and who has a valid
contract in writing with a person for the performance of the work
may petition the Director of Development and Enforcement or his designated
agent in writing for a temporary waiver of compliance with no fee
being required. The petition shall contain the information therein
which is reasonably necessary for a decision and shall include a written
and signed statement by the person under contract to correct the violation,
specifying the date of beginning and completion of the work. If the
Director of Development and Enforcement or his designated agent shall
find that the delay in the correction of the violation is reasonable,
taking into consideration the availability of persons to do the work
and the current work load, and that the work can reasonably be undertaken
and completed while the premises are occupied or that appropriate
provision has been made for housing the tenant elsewhere during the
necessary period when the dwelling or dwelling unit will not be habitable
because of the work of correcting the Housing Code violation, the
Director of Development and Enforcement or his designated agent shall
issue a temporary waiver of compliance expiring on the date when the
corrective work should be completed. The applicant shall, on or before
that said date, request a reinspection. The Director of Development
and Enforcement or his designated agent shall reinspect the dwelling
or dwelling unit and issue the certificate of compliance or list any
remaining violations as above provided.
Any applicant who deems himself aggrieved by the decision of
the Director of Development and Enforcement or his designated agent
may, by written request to the Neighborhood Rehabilitation Advisory
Board and without payment of a fee, have the entire matter heard by
it on his original petition. After hearing the applicant, his witnesses,
his counsel, if any, the Director of Development and Enforcement or
his designated agent and any witnesses he may produce and his counsel,
if any, the Neighborhood Rehabilitation Advisory Board shall, if it
shall find the existence of all the required prerequisites to the
granting of a temporary waiver of compliance by the Director of Development
and Enforcement or his designated agent, direct him to issue such
a waiver.
Any owner, agent or other authorized persons who shall let for
occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit in the City of Meriden who
does not hold a valid certificate of compliance from the Director
of Development and Enforcement or his designated agent, may upon conviction,
be punishable by a fine of not more than $100 for each and every day
that such violation continues.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to the letting
for occupancy of any dwelling or dwelling unit that is new construction
for a period of 10 years; that has undergone total renovation for
a period of 10 years; that has undergone substantial restoration for
a period of seven years; or to any dwelling unit which was inspected
under the provisions of this section within two years of the date
of letting.
