PORTSMOUTH — A Rockingham Superior Court judge issued an emergency order Tuesday that requires the owners of a downtown apartment building to "immediately" fix a host of code violations, or find temporary housing for the tenants.

The order by Judge Kenneth McHugh pertains to a building at 78 Bridge St. that city officials say is "unsafe," "hazardous" and rife with gas, electrical, plumbing, health and safety violations. City officials also allege the owners, Shang Ta Chen and his wife, June Li, illegally doubled the number of allowed apartments from three to six.

The judge's order bars the owners from failing to comply with "life and safety code violations," "specifically inadequate egress, code violations, and plumbing mechanical and gas systems, specifically properly venting gas exhaust, faulty wiring, all endangering the health and safety of tenants." The order also bars the owners from evicting tenants without giving statutory notice, unless temporary housing is provided.see below the gas detector

The emergency order was issued at the request of the city, which was represented by Assistant City Attorney Jane Ferrini. Representing the property owners, attorney James Ritzo said it is his understanding that most of the tenants don't want to leave the building. Ritzo also said the tenants collectively have two cats and an iguana as pets that would also need alternate housing.

"Otherwise, they'll all stay there until we go back to court," he said.

The court is expected to review the case within 10 days.

The building, located between a French restaurant and a barber shop, was converted into the six-unit property without proper permits, according to the city. A May 2 inspection of the property by fire inspector Patrick Howe revealed "significant fire and life safety code deficiencies," including inadequate smoke detection and alarms, non-functioning emergency lights, inadequate egress and unprotected vertical openings. During a follow-up inspection Monday, one of the unprotected vertical openings was shown to be a second-floor door that opens to the outside, with a two-story drop and no barrier between the door and the ground below.

Electrical inspector Scott Young reported that removal and replacement of all wiring is needed for the building to meet code. Plumbing inspector Brian Kiely reported finding "serious code violations on all plumbing, mechanical and gas systems throughout the building."

On Monday, a contractor was knocking down walls on the ground floor and was ordered by the city to stop until he obtains a demolition permit.

Ground-floor tenant Jessica Satterfield told the Portsmouth Herald that she found her $800-a-month apartment advertised on Craigslist, but according to the city, it is supposed to be a retail unit. Echoing city allegations of code violations throughout the building, the drop ceiling in Satterfield's apartment is water stained and some of the ceiling tiles are missing. Satterfield said one of the tiles fell out under the weight of water that leaked into her living room.