Landlord of 16-unit South Madison property given 30 days, ordered inspection after code violations cited

MUNCIE, Ind. — Matthew Billington, the property owner of 4611 South Madison Street, told the Muncie Unsafe Building Hearing Authority on Sept. 11 that he plans repairs, eviction filings and roof work after staff reported interior and exterior code violations at the 16-unit property; the authority affirmed a rehabilitation order, ordered an inspection and continued the case 30 days.

Staff’s summary of the inspection cited roof leaks with tarps in place, broken apartment doors, interior water damage where AC units have leaked and other code items including kitchen and bathroom fixtures needing replacement. Billington told the authority he purchased the property in February 2018, said “whatever I have to do to make it right,” and said he has bought roofing materials for repairs.

Billington said the property includes 16 units plus two separately parcelled single-family homes; at the time of the hearing 15 of the 16 units were occupied and one was vacant. He said he is pursuing evictions against tenants who have not paid so he can repair interiors, and that roofing materials have already been purchased for the building side where storm damage occurred.

Authority members asked staff to conduct an inspection and to walk the property with Billington prior to the next hearing so that inspectors can mark the precise scope of repairs. The authority then voted to affirm the rehabilitation order, require an inspection and continue the case for 30 days; the motion carried by voice vote.

The authority’s order requires the owner to schedule the inspection with the building commissioner, return with a timeline for repairs at the next hearing, and ensure the inspector can reinspect corrected work to obtain a release if the work is completed prior to the hearing.