When Esther Patt stepped into an apartment at 2018 S. Fletcher St., her feet first felt the warp in the floor. The tenant of the apartment walked Patt through some of the violations that had yet to be fixed by the landlord. She saw cockroaches crawling around in drawers, on countertops and managing their way into the refrigerator through a crack in the seal.

“I am so frustrated,” said Patt, director of the Champaign-Urbana Tenant Union. “City government just lets landlords get away with it.” 

The residents of this complex are not strangers to poor apartment maintenance. Two weeks ago, 18 occupants were relocated from their former residences at 1302, 1304 and 1401 E. Silver St. City officials condemned the complexes on Feb. 28 due to structural safety issues with the outdoor walkways between apartments.

Now just a few blocks south of the old apartments, Patt said many residents weren’t aware that after the condemnation, their leases were broken, and they could legally seek new housing.

The landlord, Paul Zerrouki, of BZ Management, was charged on Feb. 14 with criminal housing management, or “recklessly permit(ing) the physical condition … to become or remain in any condition which endangers the health or safety of a person,” a Class A misdemeanor. If he were to repeat the offense, he would be charged with a Class 4 felony. Zerrouki is next expected to appear in court on March 27.

City planner Libby Tyler said the Fletcher Street units passed code inspections before residents moved in, but she agreed with Patt in saying better education is necessary.

“We are looking at revising some of our procedures for these relocations,” Tyler said.

Although the apartments received a systematic inspection, where inspectors do an overall check, Patt believes the inspection was not sufficient. She said inspectors would have noticed the cockroaches if they had done a called-in inspection for the specific problem.

Patt said she believes the issue is not only about the city more carefully evaluating apartments during inspections but also holding landlords to stricter financial responsibility.

Alderwoman Diane Marlin, of Ward 7, where the apartments are located, said the city may have to step in to address the issue with an ordinance, in addition to the city’s existing property maintenance code, that details which financial responsibilities fall to the landlord and how the city will enforce them.

“The key is for us to consistently enforce the property maintenance code,” she said. “That’s where the city could step in.” 

Marlin said an ordinance could require the landlord to pay for moving costs for all residents as well as for their last month’s rent and damage deposit.  

Urbana mayor Laurel Prussing said city staff is researching the costs of such an ordinance in terms of the city’s liability. If landlords failed to follow the ordinance, the city would have to front the cost and the landlord would be in debt to the city.

Prussing said the council will write an ordinance in the next few months.

Tyler said she is working on a cover letter to send to affected residents that contains information about tenant rights in the situation of relocation. 

“It’s difficult when you have an unsafe situation,” she said. “You want people moved quickly and safely, but you want to prevent homelessness. We also need to make sure they are aware of their options.”

Paul Zerrouki of BZ Management could not be reached at press time. 

Corinne can be reached at [email protected].