It shall be unlawful for a landlord to terminate the lease agreement or periodic tenancy
of any tenant or otherwise retaliate against any tenant because the tenant complained
to the city about nuisance activities on the landlords premises. It shall be presumed
that any attempt to increase charges, reduce services, or to otherwise harass or retaliate
against the tenant during the twelve-month period following receipt of the complaint
by the city constitutes unlawful retaliation under this section. Such presumption
shall be rebutted by the preponderance of evidence that the actions taken by the landlord
were based upon good cause, such as but not limited to failure to pay rent, committing
a nuisance activity as defined by this chapter, violating the terms and conditions
of the lease agreement or periodic tenancy, or the necessity of closing the building
in an effort to abate the chronic nuisance(s). A landlord's failure to renew a lease
agreement upon expiration of such lease agreement shall not be deemed a violation
of this section.
(2)
It shall be unlawful for a tenant or any other person to submit or cause to be submitted
a false report(s) as defined in
section 50-42 to the City Police Department alleging incidents of any of the activities identified
in section 48-51(b).
(h)
Additional violations and penalties.
(1)
It shall be unlawful for any owner or occupant, as defined in
section 48-1, of any property, premise, lot, tract or parcel of land to cause, permit, encourage
or allow a chronic nuisance to exist upon said property.
(2)
It shall be unlawful to use, occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any structure
ordered closed through the procedures of this section.
(3)