A Walnut Hills couple is asking the City why they, and other condominium owners, are being treated differently from owners of single-family homes.

In a letter to City Council, the couple alleged that getting a next day walk-through inspection of the renovation of their recently-purchased condo by Buildings & Inspections would cost them $400, while the owner of a single-family home would pay nothing for the same service.

A free walk-through would require them to wait two weeks, putting the renovation work on hold and delaying the sale of their old home, adding to their costs.

The couple cites three other circumstances where they believe there's a discrepancy in treatment:

* The City does not include condominiums in its homeownership totals,
* The City does not include new condominium purchases in its new homeownership totals, and
* The City provides recycling services to single-family through 8-unit houses, but not to individual condominium units.

With condominium ownership on the rise - especially among young professionals and empty nesters - the couple is asking the City to revise its methods of reporting.

They are also asking for their $400 to be refunded "as a matter of equity".

The issue has been turned over to the City Manager's office for a report, which is due by mid-March.