Pubdate: Sat, 17 Feb 2007
Source: Maple Ridge News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Maple Ridge News
Contact:  http://www.mapleridgenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1328
Author: Monisha Martins

HOME OWNER DISPUTES INSPECTION BILL

The owner of a rental home in Pitt Meadows is protesting a $3,200 
bill and a no-occupancy notice issued by the city after a bylaws team 
inspected it for abnormally high energy consumption.

Inspectors posted the no-occupancy notice at a house on 119 Avenue 
last week. They found "numerous plumbing electrical and building 
renovations done without a permit" at the home.

Todd Listwin, who owns the house, said he found out about the 
inspection after receiving a $3,200 bill for the inspection. The 
house was being rented out by Listwin. He had hired a property 
manager to screen tenants and collect rent.

"As an owner, I should have known the inspection took place. I just 
got a bill," Listwin said.

A landlord with 17 rental properties, Listwin said it was the first 
time a municipality had barged into one of his homes.

"They are taking over my house right now. I'm out of rental income. I 
understand some of the concerns. I had a property manager that made a 
bad choice and I'm the victim, really."

Listwin said he is going to dispute the $3,200 bill.

The City of Pitt Meadows has now inspected seven homes in the past 
two weeks for abnormally high hydro consumption.

The inspections are part of a three-month pilot project to eliminate 
residential marijuana grow operations through safety inspections.

No marijuana operations were found at any of the seven homes in Pitt Meadows.

"These houses have been identified by high hydro consumption," said 
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows RCMP Cpl. Ryan Schlecker.

Under the program, RCMP forward a list of such homes to a team of 
four comprised of a bylaw officer and building, fire and electrical 
inspectors. B.C. Hydro then releases domestic electrical consumption 
information to the municipality. Homes that use more than 93 
kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day, or three-times the 
average, are investigated by city staff.

City staff first post a 24-hour notice of inspection at the homes.

City bylaws inspector Leslie Elchuk, who is co-ordinating the pilot 
project, said 10 homes with high electrical consumption have been 
identified so far.

On Tuesday, council directed staff to file notices in the land titles 
office about deficiencies at three homes after staff found work done 
without electrical, plumbing and building permits.

Documents filed by the inspection team show inspectors found tap and 
water lines in the basement of a house on Chestnut Crescent, as well 
as open panel electrical box connections and holes in sub-floors into 
the attic.

In a house on 118B Avenue, owned but not occupied by a Maple Ridge 
couple, inspectors found plumbing work done without a permit, open 
drains in the crawl space, incomplete wiring and a compromised fume 
barrier near the garage.

Elchuk said once the homes are fixed, the owners can apply to have 
the notices removed from the land titles office.

The notices warn prospective buyers that the homes were altered 
without permits.

RCMP continue to urge residents to report any suspicious activity in 
their neighbourhoods.

Report suspicious activities to the RCMP at 604-463-5261 or calling 
CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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MAP posted-by: Elaine