Azusa : Housing Maintenance OKd

In an effort to clean up the city’s housing stock, the City Council on Monday adopted a maintenance program that establishes regular inspections and sets specific standards for property owners and landlords.

The program will require property owners to meet standards on landscaping, trash removal and painting.

The city will spend $80,000 to hire two staff members to participate in annual inspections of rental units. There are about 6,500 rental units in Azusa, more than half of the city’s total housing stock.

Each landlord will pay a $30 registration fee per apartment complex, and an additional $2 for each unit. Those who fail to pay the fees could have their utilities disconnected, and landlords whose units are substandard will pay fines, eventually making the program self-supporting, according to city staff.

The ordinances, which will go before the council for final approval in January, were adopted despite opposition from apartment owner groups.