Photo: Rob Gibson / FILE
The house at 3054 Springfield Road is now empty and boarded up
The City of Kelowna says two “problem properties” targeted by the newly formed Property Standards Compliance Team are now vacant.
The team that brings together the RCMP, Kelowna Fire Department and City Statute, Building Technology, and Planning and Development was formed this summer to handle potentially unsafe or illegal real estate.
The goal, the city said, is to leverage the skills of each agency and department to increase the impact on problem properties that can be difficult to deal with.
The city says it has targeted four such objects since the team was put together.
Although there were no specific addresses, one of them was a house at 3054 Springfield Road that was subsequently vacated and boarded up.
The city admitted the owner had been fined more than $ 2,500. The house had been the site of several incidents, including a sudden death in July and a raid earlier that month that resulted in $ 10,000 worth of stolen goods.
Two other houses in Rutland were also visited, one of which is also now vacant.
“Neighbors and local residents often focus on the crime and safety elements of problem properties when complaining, but regulators like the Public Health Act, BC Fire Code and Building Code, and Community Charter can be just as effective in combating violations,” said Terry Kowal, site inspection and license manager.
According to official sources, the team is trying to ensure that property owners know and comply with local, regional, and federal laws to tackle those properties.
The city says the responsibility rests with the owner to resolve concerns, not the tenant.
Fines and orders will be sent to the owner and not to the tenant if defects are found.
