The Borough of Northampton’s new rental inspection ordinance has been met with some resistance.

The ordinance took effect Jan. 1. It requires landlords to pay a registration fee for each rental unit, to allow a borough code officer to schedule inspections of the property, to pay inspection fees and to correct unsafe conditions.

Borough Manager LeRoy Brobst reported approximately 34 percent of the properties inspected have failed. He noted some of the failures involved issues like buildings not having fire detectors.

Part-time rental inspectors Gene Kutzler and Keith Knoblach, code enforcement officer and the borough’s fire chief, spend 13 hours a week on the inspections. It was also noted office personnel have been working diligently to get the notices out to the landlords.

Councilman Anthony Lopsonzski Sr. contended the task needs a full-time officer and a part-time individual for the inspections.

Councilwoman Judy Kutzler said more time is needed for such a huge project, one that involves approximately 1,300 rental properties.

“It is developing slowly because you cannot really rush into it,” Lopsonzski Sr. reminded his colleagues.

When council was considering the ordinance in 2018, many residents and landlords attended meetings in opposition to the legislation, claiming inspections were unnecessary and their properties were in compliance with codes.

“I am surprised by the failure rate, after owners said there were no issues,” Councilman Robert McHale said.

“These are the places that could be falling apart,” McHale said, adding some landlords have failed to respond to the notices sent to them.

“Then we are going to have to get ugly,” Brobst remarked.

He said the borough solicitor, Steven Goudsouzian, may get involved in the process if the landlords ignore the second notice that will go out.

The ordinance had a difficult inception, filled with numerous drafts, delays and vetoes.