Local city introduces rental property program to ensure health and safety standards

MARSHALL COUNTY, W.Va. ( WTRF ) – The City of Moundsville has created a Rental Registration Program requiring all rental properties to register and pass an inspection.

Properties are not inspected based on code, rather on health and safety to ensure the home or apartment complex is safe to live in.

The program is completely free of charge. There is no cost to register properties or have them inspected. Once a property is inspected, the owner will receive a report from the inspector.

If there are any deficiencies, owners will get a certain amount of time to correct them and then the property will get re-inspected, which is also free of charge.

City Manager, Rick Healy explains the only time an owner of a rental property could be charged is if the inspector has to come back multiple times for uncorrected deficiencies.

“We’re not talking about bringing properties up to code. That would be unrealistic. We are talking about health and safety. We want to make sure there are smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors. We want to make sure windows can be opened in bedrooms and you can get out of them if need be. We want to make sure doors are in place and they have locks on them, that there’s functioning toilets functioning bathtubs, things like that. It’s not an over encompassing program that’s going to be that difficult on landlords.”

Rick Healy | City Manager, Moundsville

Healy says owners of rental properties should have received a letter with instructions on what they need to do.

“Residents need to come to the city building or to the building inspector’s office and you need to complete the registration form and then you can pick up a checklist there of the things we’re going to be looking at, if you’d like. And then you will be scheduled for an interview at some point down the road.”

Rick Healy | City Manager, Moundsville

Healy says if owners of rental properties fail to register, they will be given a warning and ample amount of time to register.

If they still fail to register, owners of rental properties could be cited for violating a city ordinance.

The city is hosting a meeting on Thursday, April 25 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Council Chambers at 800 6th Street.

During the meeting, city officials will explain the program and residents can ask questions about what to expect. There will also be representatives from the building department in attendance.

In the meantime, if you’re a resident who owns rental property and have not received a letter or just have some general questions, contact Program Manager, Danielle Harmon at (304)-830-1876.

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