A residential occupancy permit is designed to certify that a building or apartment is safe for someone to occupy. It is designed for safety only. It is to protect both the Landlord and the renter. It is not designed to collect past due water bills or city court fines. These if outstanding are levied on the taxes and end up being paid in the long run just with interest. Landlords are being targeted. A single homeowner if behind on water bills or fines are not being strong armed at all yet. Nothing happens to them if they are behind. They can go right along as usual. A Landlord on the other hand cannot rent out an apartment if they are behind. The building department will not issue a residential occupancy permit even though the building or apartment could be in tip top shape. I may add that Watervliet is the only city in this area to add this condition to the city code. If the landlord decides to rent out the building because he or she needs the money in order to maintain the property or pay the mortgage he or she if caught will be fined severely by the building department. The only thing this is accomplishing is hurting those in a time of economic uncertainty. Landlords over the past few years have already been hurt by rising property taxes and the strict square footage requirements. Especially here in Watervliet where most properties are very old and were designed back in the day with very small bedrooms. Enough is enough and I'd like to ask that you please sign this petition to help those homeowners who are just trying to make a living. This will also help to prevent the building department from soon enforcing these laws on the owner occupied properties as well. This is what will be coming next. Please sign to repeal Section I of Chapter 176.6 of the Watervliet City Code.

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