MASON CITY – Residents of a Mason City rental house were recently ordered to leave the premises due to safety concerns.
Mason City police tell NIT that last month, the city rental inspector was notified of suspected rental code violations inside the property located at 510 1st Street NE, which is owned by Robert and Mary Marshall, records show. A 24-hour notice was given to the tenants and landlord. On January 6, a city rental inspector and a police officer went to the property. An officer stood by while the rental inspector conducted a rental inspection. The property was found to have numerous code violations.
“A lot of damage was found on the inside,” police tell NIT. “The code violations were serious enough that continuing to live there could be a life-safety concern. The rental inspector had to white tag the property immediately to ensure the tenants were not harmed.”
Police say that it appears that most of the issues occurred after the current tenants moved in.
“By current city policy, rental units are inspected once every 5 years,” police explained. “Rental inspector can reinspect (after initial inspection) on a complaint basis, after 24+ hr notice is given to landlord and tenants.”
Currently, it appears a clean-up effort is underway at this property. The tenants are prohibited from living there until code violations are rectified and the unit is reinspected. The landlord is responsible to correct, or cannot re-rent and house will remain vacant.
Trespassing while white-tagged (tenants or squatters is punishable by arrest).
