A. 
It shall be unlawful to conduct or operate within the Town rental housing without having first obtained a license to operate or conduct such rental housing. It shall be unlawful to operate rental housing within the Town under an expired, revoked or suspended license.
B. 
There shall be the following classes of rental housing licenses:
(1) 
Multiple-family dwelling license.
(2) 
Single-family dwelling rental unit license. Where a single-family dwelling unit contains, or is attached to, one or more accessory apartments, the owner or agent shall apply for multiple-family dwelling license. Rental of rooms that do not meet the standards of accessory dwellings do not require a multiple-family dwelling license.
A. 
Application for a license required hereunder shall be made by or on behalf of the owner of the rental housing on a form provided by the Town and shall be accompanied by a fee as may be provided by resolution of the Council.
B. 
If the owner of the rental housing is a corporation, the corporation shall be qualified to do business in the state as provided by state law.
C. 
All corporate owners and owners residing outside the state shall have an agent as defined herein, who shall reside in the state, and shall certify to the Town Manager the name, address and telephone number of such agent and shall keep such information current.
Rental housing shall be inspected upon receipt of a complaint and as deemed necessary by the Town Manager to enforce this chapter. Any person may make a complaint about the condition of a rental property.
A. 
Upon enactment of this chapter, existing owners and/or agents of rental housing within the Town shall apply for a rental housing license. This application shall be made no more than 90 days after enactment of this chapter.
B. 
Upon approval of an initial application by the Town Manager, a rental housing license will be issued. Conditions of approval shall include appropriate zoning or a conditional use granted by the Hampstead Board of Zoning Appeals and other conditions as determined by the Board of Rental Housing Appeals.
Absent violations of this chapter or Town Code, renewal applications shall be approved automatically upon submittal of the application and payment of the required fee. The rental housing license shall be valid for a period of two years unless otherwise revoked or rescinded.
The person to whom any rental housing license is issued shall display it in the lobby, vestibule, rental office or other prominent public place on the premises for which the license is issued during the entire period it is in effect. A telephone number where the operator or representative thereof may, in fact, be reached at all times shall be included on the license. In the case of a single-family dwelling rental unit, it is sufficient if a copy of the license is provided the tenant.
Operation of rental housing without a rental housing license shall be a municipal infraction subject to a fine of up to $100. Each day and each living unit shall constitute a separate occurrence.
A. 
In the event the holder of a license transfers ownership or shall change his address, the holder shall notify the Town Manager within 30 days of such change.
B. 
No license is transferable. Upon sale of rental housing, the new owner shall file an application for a new rental housing license accompanied by the appropriate fee.
C. 
Whenever the ownership of the rental housing changes hands, it shall be the duty of the transferor to notify all tenants of the rental housing of the name, address and office location of the transferee and of the transferee's agent.
A. 
The landlord, at all times, shall reasonably provide for the maintenance of rental housing, which obligations shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) 
Complying with all applicable provisions of all Town regulations and ordinances governing the maintenance, construction, use or appearance of real property, including compliance with the Carroll County Minimum Livability Code. This shall include, but is not limited to, securing proper certificates and permits for all construction or renovation.
[Amended 11-13-2007 by Ord. No. 439]
(2) 
Keeping all areas of the building, grounds, facilities and appurtenances in a clean, sanitary and safe condition unless provision is made for tenant responsibility thereof by the lease, law, ordinance or regulation.
(3) 
Making all repairs and arrangements necessary to put and keep the dwelling unit and the appurtenances thereto in as good condition as required by law.
(4) 
Providing and maintaining appropriate receptacles and conveniences for the removal of ashes, rubbish and garbage, and arranging for the frequent removal of such waste, except in the case of single-family dwelling units.
(5) 
Maintaining the building, grounds, facilities and appurtenances to a standard consistent with the surrounding neighborhood.
(6) 
Ensuring that the rental housing, including the building, grounds, facilities and appurtenances, is not used for unlawful purposes, to include, but not limited to, the harboring of fugitives, the evasion of persons from the service of warrants, the shelter of juvenile runaways, the housing of illegal immigrants or for criminal enterprises or activities, such as the manufacture and distribution of illegal substances.
[Added 11-13-2007 by Ord. No. 439]
B. 
Failure to maintain rental housing, provide services or a violation of any part of this chapter shall be a violation, and each day shall constitute a separate occurrence. A violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a municipal infraction subject to a fine of up to $100. No penalty shall be imposed for that period of time when an alleged violation is the subject of an investigation or before the Board of Rental Housing Appeals, or when the violation is the subject of an order which is complied with or when a good faith effort is made to correct the violation or comply with an order.
A. 
A rental housing license may be revoked or suspended and a renewal may be denied at any time by the Town Manager if the landlord after 10 working days' written notice fails to eliminate or to initiate good faith efforts to eliminate violations of this chapter or of other applicable laws, rules or regulations. Revocation, denial or suspension of a license shall be in addition to, and not in substitution for, such other penalties as may be provided for violations by any ordinance.
B. 
In the event that a license is revoked or suspended or any application for license renewal is denied, and the landlord of the premises for which the license had been issued or applied for chooses to cease renting the facility regulated hereunder, he shall give any tenants occupying the premises in question 60 days' written notice to vacate the premises, such period to begin on the first day of the month following service of such notice. In addition, a copy of the notice must be delivered to the Town Manager.
C. 
In the event the Town Manager, State Fire Marshal, Carroll County Livability Inspector or properly authorized official of the Carroll County Health Department determines that the conditions of a rental housing unit is unfit for human habitation due to such conditions as fire, flooding, structural failure, lack of electrical power, lack of water or lack of heat, the Town Manager may revoke the rental housing license immediately. In the event of such revocation, any subsequent appeal shall not stay the enforcement action. The property may not be occupied until determined fit for human habitation. In the event that the malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance of the landlord has caused the conditions making the unit unfit for habitation then the landlord shall provide alternative housing to any tenants during the term of such appeal.
[Added 11-13-2007 by Ord. No. 439]
Where a person, rather than comply with an order of the Town Manager or Board of Rental Housing Appeals, chooses to cease to conduct or operate rental housing, he shall give any tenant occupying the premises in question 60 days' written notice to vacate the premises, the period to begin on the first day of the month following service of the notice. A copy of the notice must be delivered to the Town Manager. No penalty will be imposed during the sixty-day period that tenants have to vacate the facility, provided that the holder of the license to conduct or operate the rental housing relinquishes it and submits it to the Town Manager.