The Board of Health, City of Haverhill, on August 15, 1978, in accordance with and under the authority granted by Section 31, of Chapter III of the Massachusetts General Laws promulgated and adopted the "Change of Occupancy Regulation". On August 13, 2002 the Board of Health amended the regulation as follows:

CHANGE OF RENTAL REGULATION

Each time a dwelling unit, apartment or tenement, that was used for rental purposes, is vacated, then that dwelling unit, apartment or tenement shall be inspected by the Board of Health to determine if it meets the standards set forth in the State Sanitary Code, Article

II, "MINIMUM STANDARDS OF FITNESS FOR HUMAN HABITATION"

as promulgated and from time to time amended by the Department of Public Health of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, under the authority of General Laws,

Chapter III, Section 127-A.

Any owner of such property used for rental purposes failing to comply with this regulation shall pay a fine of $200.00. It will be deemed a violation of this regulation if any person or persons are allowed to live, occupy or inhabit the said premises without having received a certificate of fitness for human habitation from the Board of Health, Division of Code Enforcement.

For each subsequent day there exists a failure to comply with these regulations, it shall constitute a separate offense, and said fine of $200.00 shall apply for each subsequent offense.

Tenants will be responsible to maintain their dwelling unit in a satisfactory condition and periodic inspections may be carried out by the Board of Health to ascertain compliance.

A $25.00 inspection fee for rental permits is required.

Exemptions: All units that are inspected for Section 8 Housing.

Property owners/managers are required to submit to this office copies of Section 8 certificates prior to renting the unit.

All subsidized units that are inspected annually which must meet specific federal government criteria.