A unit or building may be declared Unsafe–Unfit when conditions make it uninhabitable. This means tenants cannot remain in the unit until serious violations are corrected.
The City of Albany may issue an Unsafe–Unfit declaration if any of the following conditions exist:
- No heat (September 15 – May 31)
- No electricity
- Missing or non-functioning fire alarms or smoke detectors
- Excessive garbage or debris posing a health risk
- Structural instability in the unit or building
- Severe pest infestations
- Electrical hazards that pose immediate danger
- Blocked or missing exits in buildings with public spaces or four or more residential units/floors
- Proximity to an adjacent unsafe structure
When a building is declared Unsafe–Unfit:
- A Code Enforcement Officer will notify tenants of the declaration
- Tenants are not forcibly removed unless there is an immediate threat to safety—in which case, police may intervene
- If you are displaced due to an Unsafe–Unfit order, contact United Tenants of Albany (UTA) immediately or visit our office for support.
- Thanks to funding by Assemblywoman Gabriella Romero, UTA is able to provide limited support for tenants displaced due to USUF declarations.