For the purposes of this subtitle, the following words have the meanings indicated. The term “dwelling unit”:means a room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit occupied by 1 or more persons, with facilities which are used or intended to be used by the occupants of such units for living, sleeping, eating, and cooking; and includes any common area needed for the use and enjoyment of the unit. The term “landlord” means an owner, lessor, sublessor, assignee, or agent of any thereof or other person receiving or entitled to receive rents or benefits for the use or occupancy of any dwelling or rooming unit, including any person who has an option to buy or who has entered into a contract to buy any dwelling or rooming unit with the intent to offer such dwelling or rooming unit for rent. The term “rental fee” means the entire amount of money, money’s worth, benefit, bonus, or gratuity demanded, received, or charged by a landlord as a condition of occupancy or use of a dwelling or rooming unit, its related services, and its related facilities. The term “serious defect” means a condition which constitutes or, if not promptly corrected, will constitute a fire hazard or a serious and substantial threat to the life, health, or safety of occupants, including, but not limited to:lack of heat, of light, electricity, or of hot or cold running water, except where the tenant is responsible for the payment of the utilities and the lack thereof is the direct result of the tenant’s failure to pay the charges; or lack of adequate sewage disposal facilities; or infestation of rodents in a dwelling unit (except if the property is a 1-family dwelling); or the existence of paint containing lead pigment on surfaces within the dwelling unit; or the existence of any structural defect which presents a serious and substantial threat to the physical safety of the occupants; or the existence of any condition which presents a health or fire hazard to the dwelling unit. The term “tenant” includes a tenant, subtenant, lessee, sublessee, or other person entitled to the possession, occupancy, or the benefits thereof, of any dwelling unit. City Code, 1976/83, art. 13, §57(a) Ord. 81-280