Complaint Review: City of Columbus Code Enforcement

The City of Columbus Code Enforcement was contacted via several service request submissions via online application of entity. Inspection was conducted on 10/22/2019 warranting orders to comply with identification of 15 code violations and an initial emergency order to install smoke dectectors.

On October 28, 2019 a subsequent inspection was completed as tenants remained without a gas meter due to landlord negligence to repair valves and pipe fittings to ensure establishment of gas line would be safe. Columbia has reported to property on two occasions to install meter and gas service, however, due to unsafe conditions of property could not.

Paola Turner issued an additional emergency order for David Trihn Of NGI LLC to remedy issue and he did not comply and has not to date. The City Code Inspector C Yinger and his Supervisor reported to the property located at 986 Wilson Ave Cols Ohio 43206 and placed red tag of inhability for human occupancy with order to vacate within 15 minutes.

Tenants had to vacate with as much belongings “to get through the night” per C Yinger. C Yinger promised tenants that a code officer pull meet the following Monday as no one worked over the weekend, in order for tenants to gain access to property and get their property.

C Yinger never called or followed through. Inquire was made by tenants on several attempts to obtain property and was ignored until another service request and complaint to Ohio Attorney General was made. At that time 12/05/2019 Paola Turner sent tenant a email outlining that the property owner needed to request a letter to access property.

Tenants have been without belongings since 11/15/2019 following vacate order. No filings against property owner to remedy property violations had occurred to that date and tenants property remained in the unit despite placement of red tag and VACANT sticker on home. Tenants have suffered tremendously as each was displaced and had no belongings outside of the few items grabbed on the date of red tag placement.

The City of Columbus Code Enforcement never provided relocation assistance or resources to assist the family of six, including an infant. The negligent party NGI LLC David Trihn, property owner rented a known inhabitable house to tenants and once demand for repair was made he began retaliation efforts against tenants; the City of Columbus has turned a blind eye and refused to insist property owner take responsibility and be held accountable.

The City’s code enforcement officers kicked tenants out to the street without their belongings and no options. It was not until 12/17/2019 the tenants were able to gain access to property for their belongings.

The appointment is at 11:00 today. These menaces to the community have seized and held tenants property for an entire month. The tenants have been wronged and this is unacceptable behavior.