Therefore, owners must continue to register all nonexempt rental units. The failure to register renders an owner ineligible for rent increases and is a defense to an eviction. If an existing door cannot be fitted with a conforming dead bolt, a locking device inspected and approved by the City's Building and Safety Division may be installed. Under existing codes, any locking device on a residential door must be operable from the inside without the use of a key, tool, code or special knowledge and cannot be mounted higher than 48 inches above the floor. The new law also mandates that existing exterior doors in buildings leading to common areas, such as hallways or courtyards, with access to dwelling units, be fitted with locking mechanisms that conform to fire and safety codes, i.e., that are opened from the inside without use of a key or special knowledge or effort.
Tenants are responsible for notifying the landlord if any door or window lock becomes inoperable.
A new City ordinance requires owners with rental properties with window bars which do not have inside release mechanisms to provide at least one emergency escape or rescue window in each bedroom. The owner must provide this emergency escape window by either removing the non-releasable bars or by replacing them with window bars which have the proper release mechanism. Failure to comply with this new law will subject the property owner to a citation and fine.