Company to pay $800K for code violations

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SAN FRANCISCO, July 10 (UPI) -- A San Francisco property-management company has agreed to pay a record $800,000 civil fine for hundreds of building code violations at rental properties.

Renters of properties owned by Bayview Property Managers, whose president, James Blanding, retired as a civil engineer with San Francisco's Department of Public Works in 1972, lived for more than a decade with raw sewage spills, flooding, crumbling walls and ceilings, rodent infestations, flooding, extensive mold and mildew and dry-rotted stairs, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Since 2001, the Chronicle said, the Department of Building Inspections has recorded 467 code violations at more than half the 32 properties owned by Bayview.

The company agreed to pay the fine Monday.

Numerous problems at 137 housing units were found in the city's southeastern neighborhoods, where many low-income residents live.

"We hope that negligent landlords everywhere will see this case, see the settlement, and take note," said James Sanbonmatsu, a building inspector who worked on the case.

Blanding, a state-licensed contractor, did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday.

David Zalob, Blanding's attorney, said his client will make necessary repairs.

"The settlement reflects the commitment by Bayview to get the properties in full compliance" with building codes, Zalob said.

He said Blanding could not keep up with city inspections and code violations.

Blanding has retained a property management consultant.