New Freedom council debates draft rental-occupancy ordinance after residents describe health, safety problems

A public commenter described a long-running pest infestation, unsafe living conditions and a unit she called the “former Roach House,” and urged the New Freedom Borough Council to adopt a rental-occupancy ordinance requiring landlord registration and basic safety inspections.

The speaker, identified in the meeting as a resident, told the council that the complaint that prompted the petition involved repeated pest problems and a recent stovetop fire in a unit where she said there were no smoke detectors. “Living through that was absolute hell,” she said, and urged the council to adopt an ordinance that would require safety features such as smoke detectors, ventilation and inspection authority to protect tenants and neighboring properties.

Council discussion that followed focused on three questions: whether inspections should be automatic or complaint-triggered; whether the borough has legal authority to…