SHAMOKIN - An apartment building at 22 W. Lincoln St. owned by a Sunbury man has been declared unfit for human habitation because water has been shut off to the property due to the landlord's failure to pay the water bill.
Shamokin Code Enforcement Officer Rick Bozza said he posted a sign Monday at the three-story structure declaring it unlivable after being informed by the lone remaining tenants that their water had been shut off.
Bozza said he talked with the landlord, Kenneth Springfield Jr., 44, of 115 N. 12th St., Sunbury, earlier this week about his property. He said Springfield claimed he didn't pay the water bill because a tenant living in a third-floor apartment hasn't paid him rent since October 2010. Bozza said Springfield claimed the rent payment totaled $10,000.
The code enforcement officer explained to the third-floor resident, who lives in the apartment with his son and a dog, that they would have to leave soon due to the lack of water. Bozza said the tenants plan to move today.
Bozza said a woman who previously lived in another apartment at the building recently moved into another city residence.
Landlord not registered
In addition to the apartment building at 22 W. Lincoln St., Bozza said Springfield owns an apartment building at 21 W. Church St. and a home at 330 S. Shamokin St. He also reportedly owns properties in Sunbury.
Bozza said Springfield, who is not registered as a landlord with the city, has been cited by the code office and city police for various code violations at his properties, including allowing garbage and debris to accumulate.
He said Springfield is making payments on fines after pleading guilty to eight citations before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III.
Bozza said Springfield indicated to him he no longer plans to maintain the Lincoln Street property.
At this point, there are no code violations associated with that property, but no one can live there unless water service is restored.
Issue is fresh
The issue of unregistered landlords and inspections of rental properties were topics of discussion during a city council workshop session Wednesday night.
Bozza told council members that Coal Township generated nearly $50,000 in rental inspections last year. That figure could increase now that the township is undertaking inspections on rental properties annually and at the end of any lease agreement.
Bozza suggested council also consider performing inspections before a lease agreement is struck between landlord and tenant, and perhaps consider annual inspections as well.
Landlords in the city and township are under increased scrutiny with new or amended ordinances. In Shamokin, the landlord-tenant ordinance calls for landlords to register with the city a list of tenant names for each property. That list could be used to find which properties are in need of inspection.
All city landlords were to register tenants by Feb. 15. Bozza said Wednesday night he had yet to pursue unregistered landlords to fine them, but has been given approval by council to do so.