Failed DC Home Inspection for Rentals

[Rachan M.]

Hello,

I have a rental property in NW DC which failed inspection by Dept of Buildings today. It's a semi-detached house that I started renting by the rooms when I moved out of it a couple of yrs ago. I will really appreciate some advice about the next steps:

* The basement has 2 bedrooms; the inspector asked to put steps under the windows in both rooms. This is to meet the 44 inch egress requirement in case of an emergency. Will these steps satisfy the requirements?

* There are 2 fireplaces in the house - one each on the main floor and the basement. Neither has been operated ever since I bought the house in 2008, and the inspector asked to seal them. Any suggestions for a handyman / contractor who can do that inexpensively? The idea is to block rodents but my preference is to NOT seal them permanently.

* I initiated the inspection process as a single-family house, but the inspector asked to restart the inspection as a roomie house. Any idea if that inspection is significantly different than ones for single-family house?

Thanks so much in advance!