Housing Inspectional Services Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I make a complaint?
A: You can make complaints regarding the exterior conditions of a property annonymously on our website. If you are a tenant and you need to make a complaint regarding the unit you reside in you can call in your complaint to (413)787-6730.
Q: How long am I allowed to have an unregistered motor vehicle on my property?
A: As required by City of Springfield Ordinances you may keep an unregistered motor vehicle on your property for no more than twelve days.
Q: Who is responsible for the removal of snow/ice in all common walkways within a 24-hour time period?
A: The property Owner.
Q: Who do I contact if the property owner has not cleared snow/ice from the walkways?
A: If snow and ice has not been cleared from the public sidewalk it should be reported to the Springfield Police Department at (413)750-2371. If the property owner has not cleared a pathway from all egresses you should contact Housing Inspectional Services at (413)787-6730.
Q: What are the required minimum and maximum temperatures for Hot Water?
A: The minimum allowable temperature is 110 degrees Farenheit and the maximum allowable temperature is 130 degrees Farenheit.
Q: What are the required minimum temperatures for heating a habitable room? When during the year is heating required?
A: Between September 15 and June 15 the minimum allowable temperature is 68 degrees Farneheit in the daytime (7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.) and 64 degrees Farenheit at night (11:00 p.m. until 6:59 a.m.).
Q: Are heating facilities required in every room?
A: No, as long as the minimum heating requirements are met in each habitable room.
Q: Do I have to give my name in order to complain about trash in a neighbors yard?
A: No, you can report exterior complaints such as litter, overgrowth and unregistered motor vehicles annonymously.
Q: If a landlord is not aware of all of the regulations related to residential housing, do they still have to comply?
A: Yes they are still required to comply, you can not plead ignorance of the law.
Q: Do tenants have to contact their landlord before making a complaint?
A: No a tenant is not required to contact their landlord. However it is strongly urged that the tenant report all unsatisfactory conditions to their landlord and give them an opportunity to make repairs prior to contacting Housing Inspectional Services, as it generally helps problems get resolved quicker.
Q: What time of the year are screens required and are they required on all windows and doors?
A: Screens are required April 1 through October 31, annually. Screens are only required on windows on the fourth floor and down.
Q: Does a landlord have to schedule an appointment with a tenant in order to make non-emergency repairs?
A: Yes. Landlords must give "reasonable notice" before entering to make non-emergency repairs. Reasonable notice is considered to be at least 24 hours. Written notice is strongly recommended.
Q: Can a landlord prevent a tenant from damaging their apartment?
A: Vandalism is a crime. However, in most cases the landlord is unaware of the damage to an apartment or they do not discover the damage until the tenant has moved out. The best way for a landlord to protect themselves is to thoroughly screen all tenants, perform pre-rental inspections that include photographs of the unit prior to rental and security deposits.
Q: What do I do if I receive a fine from Housing Inspectional Services?
A: You have three options you can either pay the fine at the City Clerks Office at City Hall between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. You can appeal the fine to the Director of Housing in writing within 21 days. Finally you can request in writing a non-criminal hearing at the Housing Court within 21 days.
Q: What should I do if I see someone illegally dumping trash?
A: You should contact the Springfield Police Department Quality of Life/Ordinance Flex Squad at 413-750-2371. Any details you can provide, such as the make and model of the vehicle as well as the license plate are extremelly helpful.
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