New Orleans rental property owners are being given a bit more breathing room to comply with the city's Healthy Homes ordinance, as city officials announced an extension for registration to June 15. The mandate, which requires all owners of one-to-three-unit rental properties to obtain a Healthy Homes Certificate of Compliance, has been deemed essential for ensuring the safety and livability of rental housing within the city limits.
Before this extension, property owners were facing a tighter deadline but now have until mid-June to complete their digital applications through the city's OneStopApp, the lack of access to which has not been cited as a reason for the deadline extension, the process also includes an in-person registration option for those who might be technologically challenged, this is located at 1340 Poydras St., Suite 800, open during normal business hours.
Acquiring a Certificate of Compliance is not just another bureaucratic hoop to jump through; it is a legal requirement to lease housing units in Orleans Parish. The ordinance aims to protect residents by ensuring that all rental properties meet certain health and safety standards, which include but are not limited to structural integrity, sanitation, and fire safety. Non-compliance could mean potential legal and financial consequences for property owners.
With this deadline extension, the city seems to acknowledge the challenges property owners might face in meeting compliance standards, especially amid recovery from the lasting impacts of the pandemic and economic uncertainty, however, it’s clear that New Orleans is serious about the health and safety of its residents, they won’t allow these concerns to be indefinitely sidelined. Details for the registration process and the Healthy Homes program can be found on the City of New Orleans website.
