INDIANAPOLIS -- The Marion County Public Health Department has ordered a landlord to fix 21 health code violations it found during a recent inspection.
Records show Landmark Realty has until September 28 to correct the violations, or they could face up to $2,500 in fines, according to the order.
The violations stem from a rental property located on Oakland Avenue on the city’s east side.
The health department came out to inspect the rental home on August 26 after tenant Shannon Fernandez complained that the house had been deteriorating quickly since she moved in back in January 2016.
Records show the health department found 21 health code violations including a flea infestation and mold in the basement, no working smoke detector, the roof is in disrepair and growing algae, the porch roof is decaying, the siding is deteriorating, walls are cracking, and gutters are missing.
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“The cracks in the walls had been painted over, so I didn’t see them when we moved in,” said Shannon Fernandez, who pays $385 a month for rent. “The biggest problem that concerns me is the roof. It’s in very poor condition. There’s actually moss and algae growing up there.”
Fernandez said shortly after moving in, she found a flea-infested cat living in the basement.
“No one had ever cleaned up the feces and urine,” said Fernandez.
She contacted Call 6 Investigates for help in getting the problems fixed with her rental, because she doesn’t have the money to move until her lease is up in January 2017.
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“They still have to respect the tenant’s rights,” said Fernandez. “Every tenant has a right to clean, safe affordable housing. While it is affordable, it’s not safe. I would expect a large realty company to have better property.”
Call 6 Investigates is working to get a response from Landmark Realty on the health department order.
The company owns single family homes and duplexes in Center, Washington, Wayne, Warren, Perry and Lawrence Townships.
“We are a family owned business that takes pride in renting quality homes to our tenants,” read Landmark Realty’s website.
