SEATTLE — Under an ordinance passed by the city council, Seattle apartments and rental homes will be randomly selected to be inspected for safety violations beginning this month.
Quick Facts:
- Random inspections start this month
- Properties will be selected for inspection once every 10 years
- 2,000 properties will be inspected this year; 6,000 per year after
- City wants to ensure safety, maintenance requirements being met
The inspections are be the first in about 20 years. In the past, the city relied on renters to report when landlords failed to fix a problem.
The city will select about 2,000 properties to be inspected this year.
The city says it eventually plans to inspect 6,000 of Seattle's 148,000 rentals each year under.
Landlords will get 60 days’ notice. The property owner or manager must notify the renter at least two days before the unit or building is inspected.
The city says the goal of the inspections is to ensure that important housing safety and maintenance requirements are being met.
Based on an on a 2009 American Housing Survey, an estimated 10 percent of apartments and rental homes have moderate to severe safety problems.
The Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance requires landlords to register their houses and apartments at a cost of $175 for the first unit plus $2 for each additional unit. The registration deadlines are based on the number of units on the property or the zip code.
Landlords will use a city checklist that includes items such as:
- No holes or visible leaks in the roof or walls
- Plumbing fixtures, such as sinks and toilets, work properly
- Windows and doors work properly and are secure
- A permanently-installed, working heating system
Properties must have an inspection at least once every 10 years.
For frequently asked questions and information for renters, property owners and about the Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance, see the city's website.
KIRO
