Cover Sheet Tiara Fizer Apartment inspections Fizer, T.

STORY 2 Inspections- Apart of the city code law REWRITE June 28, 2013 Budget line: Code of compliance department makes sure that property and businesses are properly maintained and in compliance with the city codes licensing . Sources:
Denise Perez University Estates tenant o Email: d.perez0823@yahoo.com o Date(s) contacted: via phone 6/15/13 o We discussed the how she felt about inspections and maintenance of her apartment. Melissa Martinez- Media Relations o Phone: 512-657-1822

o Email: melissa.martinez@austintexas.gov
o Date(s) contacted: via cell 6/14/2013, via email 6/17/13 o Info: We discussed the role of the code of compliance department. Susie Jimez- Brainbridge tenant o Email: n/a o Date(s) contacted: via email 6/15/13 o Info: We discussed her experiences with the issues at her apartment and delayed inspection. Michael Garcia- University Estates maintenance worker o Phone: 512-903-1099 o Date(s) contacted: via phone 6/28/13 o Info: We discussed the procedures to take when during inspection as well as the penalties given if inspection is not properly done.

Three ideas for follow-up stories:

What is the rate of violations on Riverside? Have any properties or buildings gotten shut down? How much power do the compliance department have?

Apartment inspections are conducted to ensure that standards required by city codes are met. In order to do this, landlords conduct annual apartment inspections. This means landlords have to be in compliance with the housing codes that states to make sure housing is safe, fair, decent, and housing is affordable.

Inspections are usually conducted prior to a tenant moving in and during the tenants stay. The tenant usually does first inspection on move-in day. The tenant has to record the conditions of the apartment, making a list of any damaged problems so they wont be responsible for damages they didnt do. Next, landlords inspect the apartments checking to make sure the apartment is in good living conditions and that everything works properly.

Inspections involve checking for pests, electricity, thermostat, fire safety, bathrooms, kitchen appliances, bedrooms and doors and bathrooms.

Penalties are accessed when improper inspection procedures are taken. It depends what was found wrong. Could be a write up or you can get fired, said Michael Garcia, University Estates maintenance worker.

In effort to make sure city codes are being met, Austins code of compliance department as well as other departments such as fire marshal, investigates violations against the law and enforces the safety of the property.

Although inspections are landlords responsibility, some tenants feel that their landlords are not in compliance with the law.

A tenant from Bridgepoint complained for three months but landlord refused to fix her problem. We didnt have hot water for almost six months. The only reason that it was fixed was that someone called code compliance, said Susie Jimez.

According to the code of compliance department and Texas tenant advisors, tenants should: notify the landlord in writing of the problem and keep a copy, then wait a reasonable time for landlords to fix the problem. If tenant does not see an adequate response from landlords to their notice then they have certain options.

Essentially there are three sources of authority in the law that can help tenants prosecute landlords one of which is the code of compliance department.

We are called multiple times daily, says Melissa Martinez, media relations for code of compliance department. She also says tenants are afraid of getting evicted if they make complaints.

Unfortunately, tenants like Ms. Perez do not know whom to contact when dealing with landlords who show little interest in their safety and living space.

I have lived in my apartment for about a year now and I have had multiple problems with maintenance simply because they do not fully fix the problems that occur in apartment, says Denise Perez. When I complain to the manager he says he will make sure they fix something but never do.

This is where the Austins Tenants Council play a big role. This program focuses on tenant-landlord information and education. They advocate and help protect tenants rights by helping tenants with housing problems talk to the right people to ensure better living conditions each year.

Tenants like Ms. Jimez thanks Code of Compliance Department, who helps struggling tenants with landlords who wont do their job. She also says that this is one of the many main enforcement teams that help enforce the law and protect the quality of life for the citizens of Austin.

Tenants like Ms. Perez says with more tenants being informed of what protocol to take when they feel landlords are abandoning their rights, more violations can be taken care of.