Del City Implements Housing Inspection Program for Rental Property

By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

MUSTANG, Oklahoma -- Del City is cracking down on rundown, dilapidated rental homes. They are putting pressure on the home owners through their wallets.

Del City's housing inspection program has been in place for a little over a year. The main purpose is to keep tenants safe and landlords responsible for their properties.

"Fire, health and safety is our main goal here," Del City Housing Inspector Keith Parker said.

Parker is finding the inside of a condemned, rental property has a number of safety hazards including leaking gas and dangerous electrical outlets. He is noticing conditions that could go unnoticed by a future tenant, until it's too late.

The city charges the homeowner $40 for this type of inspection. The home has to be up to code before a renter can move into it.

"We're trying to stop the decline of our neighborhoods," Del City Director of Community Services Jim Depuy said.

The idea for the program came about after an increase in police, fire and code enforcement complaints that all came from rental properties. The city noticed a few things.

"Some of the conditions we find are really life-threatening, vent floors off, no smoke alarms in the home, security bars with locks," Parker said.

"We are seeing people being put into these kinds of houses and that was just unconscionable," Depuy said.

But that's changing. City officials say the program is working and that's good for renters and landlords.

"If you can keep everybody's house looking good we all win," Parker said.

And the city of Mustang is considering adopting a similar program. Although Mustang does not have as big a problem, the city manager says they want to be proactive.

Del City gives the homeowner 90 days to fix the problems, at that time a re-inspection is done; if it meets code the owner is given a certificate of residence.