Rensselaer, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 121 § 121-92.1

A. Purpose and legislative intent. (1) The purpose of this section is to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents; to protect a diverse housing stock from deterioration; and to accomplish the foregoing at the lowest cost to owners and occupants in order to keep housing costs as low as reasonably possible in a manner consistent with compliance with this Code. (2) The Common Council finds and declares that the registration of rental property is intended to and will ensure the protection of persons and property in all existing residential rental structures and on all premises required to be registered under this section, and ensure that rental property owners and prospective rental property owners are informed of, and adhere to, code provisions governing the use and maintenance of rental properties, including provisions limiting the maximum occupancy for which a rental dwelling unit can be certified. B. Scope. Except as hereinafter provided, this section shall apply to every rental dwelling, dwelling unit and premises that is leased, rented, let, assigned or otherwise classified as a rental property, with or without valuable consideration, by an owner-occupant, an absentee owner or a legal agent on behalf of the owner. C. Definitions. The following terms shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this section: ADMINISTRATOR The Building Inspector or his designee. AGENT Any person who has charge, care or control of a building, or part thereof, in which rental dwelling units or rooming units are let. DWELLING Any building which is wholly or partly used or is intended to be used as habitable space for human occupants. OWNER Any person or entity who, alone or with others, has legal or equitable title. OWNER-OCCUPIED DWELLING A dwelling occupied by its owner or by members of his or her family on a nonrental basis. RENTAL DWELLING UNIT Any room or contiguous group of rooms located within a building and forming a single, habitable living space for one family. ROOMING UNIT Any furnished room for rent located within a building and forming a single sleeping space. D. Registration of rental dwellings. (1) All rental dwellings shall be registered with the City by the owner as required herein. (2) All rental dwellings existing as of the effective date of this chapter shall be registered on or before December 31, 2003. The Administrator may require and order registration prior to that date for any dwelling cited in a notice under the City Code. Failure to comply with such an order is a violation of this chapter. (3) The owner of a new rental dwelling or any dwelling newly converted to a rental dwelling shall register the rental dwelling prior to allowing occupancy of any new rental unit. (4) The owner of any rental dwelling already registered with the City shall reregister within 30 days after any change occurs in registration information. A new owner of a registered dwelling shall reregister the dwelling within 60 days of assuming ownership. E. Rental dwelling registry. The City shall maintain a registry of all rental dwellings and rental units containing the following information, which shall be provided by the owner on forms available from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services: (1) The name, legal residence address and telephone number of the owner and any agent in control of the rental dwelling, and in the event the owner or agent is not a natural person, then the owner information shall be that of the president, general manager or other chief executive officer of the organization. Where more than one natural person has an ownership interest, the required information shall be included for each owner. The information required herein shall also include the address and phone number where the owner(s), agent(s) and/or responsible person(s) may be reached day and night. (2) The number and type of rental units in the dwelling. (3) The address of the rental dwelling. (4) The date of birth of the owner or owners of the rental dwelling for those seeking an exemption of the filing fee requirement as provided under § 121-92 . (5) The employer identification number in the event that the rental dwelling is owned by a corporation. (6) If neither the address of the owner or the address of the agent in control of the premises, as provided in Subsection E(1) , are within 50 miles of the rental property, the name, legal residence or business address within Rensselaer County and telephone number of a natural person who shall be an agent for service of notices and orders issued under this chapter and for service of process in connection with the prosecution of violations of this chapter in Rensselaer City Court or other court of competent jurisdiction. F. Failure to register; inaccurate or incomplete information. It shall be a violation of this chapter for an owner or a responsible person to provide inaccurate information for the registry of rental dwellings or to fail to provide the information required herein for the registry. G. Penalties for offenses. An owner who fails to register, reregister or otherwise comply with the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be subject to the penalties set forth in § 121-86 of this chapter.