Boston Workers Checking Rental Property Conditions As College Students Move In
BOSTON (CBS/AP) – Boston students began the annual move-in process Saturday morning days before college start as city officials inspected units to make sure they are safe.
Boston Police along with the city's Inspectional Services Department checked rental units Saturday to make sure bedbugs were not in buildings and that buildings were meeting property codes.
"We are all going to be here to make sure that students can move safely smoothly" said City Councilor Josh Zakim told WBZ-TV.
Workers from several city departments will conduct targeted housing inspections, trash inspections and information drops in student-heavy neighborhoods throughout the three-day Labor Day weekend. The city will have up to 50 inspectors canvassing the Allston, Brighton, Fenway and Mission Hill neighborhoods.
Mayor Martin Walsh said inspectors will focus on problem properties and improperly stored trash.
The effort comes after a fire in an Allston apartment killed a 22-year-old Boston University student in 2013.
"It's not on the students when there is an issue. It's not on the tenants. It's on the landlords to fix that issue and make sure it is a safe clean place for everyone to move into," said Zakim.
Building superintendent Steven Hawco monitored his building to make sure tenants properly cleaned their units as they moved out to make room for students.
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