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Revere officials push to speed enforcement of illegal rooming houses after software identifies roughly 20–30 possible cases
Summary
City staff described enforcement challenges for illegal rooming houses and presented new software that flagged roughly 20–30 probable listings; council moved violations and certificates of fitness enforcement to a 40U process and approved a special act to allow penalties and liens.
City councilors on Monday heard city inspectors describe persistent enforcement obstacles for illegal "rooming houses" and voted to pursue a faster enforcement path after staff said new software has identified roughly 20–30 listings that may meet the city’s rooming-house definition.
The discussion began with Michael Wells, director of municipal inspections, who introduced building department staff and the short-term rental compliance officer to explain how the city currently finds and pursues illegal rooming houses. Wells said the department struggles because the standard complaint-and-letter sequence can take months, and inspectors often cannot enter properties without a warrant.
"If we get a complaint and we have to send out letters ... it could take 6 months before we actually get into the house," Building Commissioner Kevin Yarrow said, adding that owners sometimes remove beds or other evidence…
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