[Amended 5-8-2018 by Ord.
No. 1307]
The Borough of Ambridge recognizes the need for a registration
program for occupied or vacant rental units located within the Borough
in order to ensure rental units meet all applicable building, existing
structures, fire, health, safety and zoning codes and to provide an
efficient system for compelling both absentee and local landlords
to correct violations and maintain, in proper condition, rental property
within the Borough. The Borough recognizes that the most efficient
system is the creation of a program requiring the registration of
residential rental units within the Borough as defined in this chapter,
so that an inventory of rental properties and a verification of compliance
can be made by Borough officials.
[Amended 5-8-2018 by Ord.
No. 1307]
As used in this chapter, the following terms and words shall
have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
that a different meaning is intended.
BOROUGH
The Borough of Ambridge, its Manager and his/her designees
and the public safety and code enforcement officers of the Borough.
DWELLING UNIT
A building, or portion thereof, designed for occupancy for
residential purposes and having cooking facilities and sanitary facilities.
LANDLORD
Any person who owns or controls a dwelling, dwelling unit
or rental unit and rents such unit, either personally or through a
designated agent, to any person.
OWNER
The legal title holder of a rental unit or the premises within
which the rental unit is situated.
OWNER-OCCUPIED RENTAL UNIT
A rental unit that is occupied in whole or in part by an
individual whose name specifically appears on the deed for the property
where the rental unit is located.
PERSON
Any natural individual, firm, partnership, association, joint-stock
company, joint venture, public or private corporation or receiver,
executor, personal representative, trust, trustee, conservator or
other representative appointed by order of any court.
PREMISES
A lot, plot or parcel of land, including the buildings or
structures thereon, which also includes dwelling units and dwellings.
RENTAL UNIT
Any dwelling unit or residential structure containing sleeping
units, including but not limited to hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfast
establishments, boardinghouses or sleeping rooms, which currently
are or are intended to be leased or rented from the owner or other
person in control of such units to any tenant, whether by day, week,
month, year or any other term. Hotels, motels and bed-and-breakfast
establishments shall be exempt from this chapter. Vacant dwelling
units shall be considered regular units for rental registration purposes.
RESPONSIBLE LOCAL AGENT
A natural person having his or her place of residence in
the State of Pennsylvania and/or a professional, licensed real estate
management firm with an office located in the State of Pennsylvania
that has been granted legal authority by the property owner in accordance
with the laws of the commonwealth as the agent responsible for operating
such property in compliance with the ordinances adopted by the Borough.
No person shall lease, rent, occupy or otherwise allow a rental
unit within the Borough to be occupied within the Borough without
first obtaining a rental permit from the license officer.
A. A permit can be acquired after the owner of the rental unit shall have registered the rental unit with the Borough by fully completing and filing a current registration form either online or in paper form with the Borough, as provided in §
216-4 of this chapter.
B. A permit will be denied unless all of the following requirements
are met:
(1) All requirements of §
216-5 pertaining to inspection are met.
(2) All fees charged by the Borough for the registration of the rental
unit shall be paid in full.
(3) All real estate, business taxes, and housing court judgments are
paid in full and proof of adequate fire insurance covering the dwelling
unit and rental unit is provided and maintained at the time of issuance
of the permit and during the duration of said permit. The fire insurance
coverage must be in an amount reasonably calculated to pay for the
cost of repair, replacement and/or the demolition of the structure
in which said dwelling unit and rental unit is situated. The Borough
is hereby authorized to demand proof of payment of said taxes, judgments
and fire insurance policy(ies) of reasonable intervals during the
duration of the said permit.
[Amended 1-9-2017 by Ord.
No. 1301]
(4) The owner or responsible local agent of the rental unit shall provide the Borough a document which states the name(s), and telephone number(s) of the leaseholders who will occupy the unit. It shall also provide the length of their occupancy. This information shall be supplied annually in accordance with §
216-4.
No person shall lease, rent, occupy or otherwise allow a rental
unit within the Borough to be occupied without first registering the
rental unit with the Borough and designating a responsible local agent.
A. Registration forms. Registration shall be made upon forms furnished
by the Borough and shall require all of the following information:
(1) The street address and block and lot number of the rental unit(s);
(2) The number and types of rental units within the rental property;
(3) Name, residence address, telephone number and, where applicable,
an e-mail address, mobile telephone number, and facsimile number of
all property owners of the rental unit(s);
(4) Name, residence address, telephone number and, where applicable,
an e-mail address, mobile telephone number, and facsimile number of
the responsible local agent designated by the owner;
(5) The maximum number of tenants permitted for each rental unit;
(6) The name, address, telephone number and, where applicable, an e-mail
address, mobile telephone number, and facsimile number of the person
authorized to collect rent from the tenants;
(7) The name, address, telephone number and, where applicable, an e-mail
address, mobile telephone number, and facsimile number of the person
authorized to make or order repairs or services for the property if
in violation of Borough or state codes, if the person is other than
the owner or the responsible local agent;
(8) The name, address and telephone number of any lienholder(s) on the
rental unit or the real property on which the rental unit is located
at time of annual registration;
(9) The name and telephone number of all leaseholders, number of occupants
and the termination date of the lease; and
(10)
A copy of a current valid occupancy permit for the property
shall be provided at the initial application but shall not be necessary
unless there is a transfer of property.
B. Accurate and complete information. All information provided on the
registration form shall be accurate and complete. No person shall
provide inaccurate information for the registration of a rental unit
or fail to provide the information required for such registration.
The registration form shall be signed by the property owner(s) or
the designated responsible local agent, where applicable. When the
owner is not a natural person, the owner information shall be that
of the president, general manager or other chief executive of the
organization. When more than one person has an ownership interest,
the required information shall be provided for each owner.
C. Change in registration information or transfer of property.
(1) Except for a change in the registered local agent, the property owner
of a rental unit registered with the Borough shall reregister within
60 calendar days after any change occurs in the registration information.
(2) If the property is transferred to a new owner, the new property owner
of a registered rental unit shall reregister the rental unit within
60 calendar days following the transfer of the property.
(3) Property owners shall notify the Borough of any change in the designation
of the registered local agent, including a change in name, address,
e-mail address, telephone number, mobile telephone number or facsimile
number of the designated registered local agent, within five business
days of the change.
(4) A change in the lienholder or tenants shall be made upon annual registration.
D. Registration term and renewals. Registration of a rental unit shall
be effective for one year. All registrations shall expire on September
30 of each year. The property owner shall reregister each rental unit
with the Borough 30 calendar days prior to the expiration of the registration
of the rental unit (August 31 of each year).
E. Responsible local agent. The designated responsible local agent shall
be responsible for all of the following:
(1) Operating the registered rental unit in compliance with all applicable
Borough ordinances;
(2) Providing access to the rental unit for the purpose of making any
and all inspections necessary to ensure compliance with the applicable
Borough ordinances;
(3) Maintaining a list of the names and number of occupants of each rental
unit for which he or she is responsible; and
(4) Accepting all legal notices or services of process with respect to
the rental unit.
All records, files and documents pertaining to the rental registration
and licensing and rental unit inspection program shall be maintained
by the Borough, and all or portions of such documents shall be made
available to other appropriate Borough departments and the public
in accordance with the applicable provisions of Pennsylvania law.
Violation of this chapter shall be a summary offense. The fine
for each separate violation shall be a fine not to exceed $1,000 per
each unit per each month that a rental unit is not registered or inspected
as required by this chapter, plus any fees that have been charged
for inspection, if applicable. Inspection fees shall not be waived
or reduced.