Landlords open student houses for inspections

After months of refusing fire code inspections, three landlords have agreed to allow an inspector into their rooming houses.

John Gibbon, attorney for landlords Betty Baxter, Van Kirkendall and David Sonner, sent a letter to City Solicitor Eric Severs this week confirming that his clients would accept inspections for serious hazard violations.

When City Manager Rob DiSpirto and Fire Chief Dennis Kirin arrived in Oberlin, they were surprised to find that Ohio state fire codes did not apply to Oberlin rooming houses. The city attempted to remedy the situation by notifying landlords they would be required to bring their houses in line with the provisions of the Ohio Basic Building Code (OBBC). The city's problems had just begun.

Although many landlords agreed to comply with the regulations, a handful cried foul. The landlords claimed the city did not have the power to enforce the OBBC and refused all inspections. The State Board of Appeals sided with the landlords this year, issuing a ruling in favor of landlord Glenn Gall. According to the decision, the city did not have the authority to apply the OBBC.

"In light of that decision, the city has agreed the inspection will be limited to city codes," Gibbon said. "This will not be an excuse to do an OBBC inspection. We're now satisfied that they will inspect only for what they used to inspect for and not use it as pretext for an OBBC general inspection."

"I think it's a shame we've had to go through this whole process," Kirin said. "I've been in this business for 26 years, and I don't consider myself an expert. Some of these people are self-appointed inspectors." Gibbon said the inspections would be done expeditiously.

"There'll probably be appeals," Gibbon said. "This probably won't be the end of it."

Firing away: Landlords David Sonner (top right) and Van Kirkendall (middle left) believe their rooming houses are safe. Van Kirkendall points to the ladder which serves as an escape route.(bottom right) (photos by Zach Fried)