The Department shall establish a program for voluntary inspections
of rental housing to determine compliance with property maintenance
standards. Owners of rental housing are encouraged to participate
in this program. The program shall consist of the following:
A.
Voluntary inspections. Prior to occupancy and prior to renewal of
a certificate of compliance, each residential rental dwelling unit
may be inspected by the code official or other authorized inspector.
All inspections shall be at the sole expense of the owner.
B.
Inspection to determine compliance. All inspections conducted under this section shall determine compliance with this chapter and the Property Maintenance Chapter (Chapter 183) of this Code. This inspection shall include the exterior and interior of the premises.
C.
Independent inspectors. Any owner of rental housing shall have the
right to employ an independent inspector who is currently approved
by the Borough as a qualified and certified inspector. The Borough
shall maintain a list of certified inspectors from which owners may
select.
D.
As to any residential rental dwelling unit inspected and certified by said inspector as being in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the Property Maintenance Chapter (Chapter 183), the code official shall issue a certificate of compliance dated as of said inspection. Issuance of a certificate of compliance shall represent compliance with the inspection requirements of this chapter and the provisions of Chapter 183 as of the date of inspection but shall not denote compliance with any other applicable chapter, other code, ordinance or statute. A certificate of compliance shall state that the residential rental dwelling unit passed inspection as of the date of the certificate. Owners are encouraged to display a certificate of compliance in a conspicuous place in the interior of each residential rental dwelling unit which has passed inspection.
E.
Exemption from inspection.
(1)
In any instance where the code official shall lawfully issue a certificate
of occupancy for a residential rental dwelling unit as a result of
new construction or alterations, he shall concurrently issue a certificate
of compliance.
(2)
In any instance where proper evidence is submitted to the code official to demonstrate compliance with a current inspection by a federal or a state authority pursuant to a maintenance standard equivalent to or more strict than the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 183, the code official shall issue a certificate of compliance dated as of the date of such inspection.
F.
Reservation of right of Borough inspection. Notwithstanding the provisions
of the preceding subsections of this section, the Borough reserves
the right at any time to conduct a lawful inspection of any rental
housing to verify compliance with the provisions of this chapter and
the Property Maintenance Chapter, whether performed by a code official
or by an independent inspector. If, as a result of such inspection,
violations of the provisions of this chapter or the Property Maintenance
Chapter are determined, no certificate of compliance shall be issued;
and in the event of having been previously issued, it shall be revoked.
