Sec. 34-848. - Complaint by tenants; retaliation prohibited.
(a)
In an attempt to provide an opportunity for corrective action to occur without the
initiation of a field investigation, unless there are allegations of health hazardous
conditions, the director may request a complainant to first communicate concerns to
the owner, permit holder or designated management.
(b)
The director is given discretion to consider instances where the tenant is the obvious
source of damage or reoccurrence of issues in determining whether to conduct a re-inspection
or to charge the permit holder for a re-inspection.
(c)
Retaliation prohibited.
(1)
No person shall file an action for eviction or fail to renew a lease or alter the
terms of a lease because the occupant has reported a violation of this article or
a related provision of the city Code to the director, to another city employee or
to any other person, or because the occupant has sought to organize or participate
in a tenants' association or collectively bargain with the property owner.
(2)
No person shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility required under this
article to be removed, shut off or discontinued in retaliation for making a complaint,
participating in a tenant's association, or bargaining collectively.
(3)
No person shall charge or demand reimbursement of any fees arising from this article,
including late fees, annual permit review fees and re-inspection fees, to a tenant.
The passing of fees from an owner or permit holder to a tenant shall be considered
retaliation.
(d)
If the director finds violations during a complaint investigation, a re-inspection
may be required to ensure collective action is taken and violations no longer exist.
(e)