Code enforcement, college town

As you know, the last few days have been a bit windy on the Athens front. The gusts may have helped cool down the recent 70-degree days, but what you may not have realized are the problems they can cause tenants living in rental housing whose empty beer cases suddenly decorate the curbs. Trash issues are Athens Code Enforcement's biggest stress point on students living in rentals, but there are plenty more problems to deal with when it comes to code violations in a student's home. I got the chance to speak with Athens Code Director John Paszke to find out what he thinks are the most important--and often unrealized--aspects of code enforcement in a college town.

Violations

Out of all the violations that Paszke has overseen in his time as code director in Athens, trash problems are the most prevalent. Other issues, such as snow removal and over-occupancy, he says are also noticeable ones that often creep up in homes rented by college students. The Athens Code Enforcement, which is made up of two basic departments (the first in charge of rental inspections in homes, and the second in charge of solid waste and litter control), depends on the leases tenants sign with landlords to determine who is responsible for what issues.

"Some landlords have told me that they have written in there that it is [the tenant’s] responsibility to cut the grass and shovel the snow," Paszke says, "but we here at the department have no way of knowing that stuff."

In the event of a violation--anything from trash issues to improper porch furniture or snow removal--landlords have 30 days to comply. Following that period, a re-compliance notice is issued, allowing for an additional 15 days. For trash violations specifically, tenants are fined in $20 increments per violation ($20 for the first, $40 for the second, $60 for the third, etc.). If, however, tenants fail to remove trash five days following a violation, fines increase as the city comes for a bulk pickup.

"Basically, they have 45 days or so [to fix a violation]," Paszke says. "In some instances it might be 60 before we get back out there to re-inspect them, but by law they have 45 days or so to have everything taken care of. If not, it could be a misdemeanor offense and taken to court. But the landlords are pretty good about taking care of that stuff and getting it all done."

Tenants are not the only ones who face regulations, however. Landlords are fined $25 if they are not present for an inspection. But, Paszke says, out of the 400-plus inspections as of last month, only one or two landlords have failed to show up.

Inspections

Beginning Feb. 1 of this year, the department began the process of inspecting rental homes annually. Inspections, which involve everything from stair railings to blocked hallways to correctly installed electrical fixtures to smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, follow the same process for both houses and apartment complexes.

"Really anything related to safety [we will inspect]," Paszke says. "Anything that you would think would potentially cause harm to a person we address, fire or whatever it may be."

The Athens Code Enforcement uses the International Property Maintenance Code, of which section 29 applies to Athens, to determine exactly what will be inspected. The department is not allowed to enter standard houses, or homes that are not rented, but it can by law inspect the outsides of these homes to search for structural or trash violations.

Paszke was not afraid to admit that his team of four to five inspectors, who are in charge of the approximately 5,000 properties around campus, have seen plenty of violations in their time with the department. What are some of the most blatant ones they've seen?

"I have heard some stories," Paszke says. "But I’m not saying."

If students have any questions regarding code enforcement, the department can be reached at 740-592-3306, or through its website.