The hotly debated porch couch issue and the housing code will be on the ballot next week - but it is more than just a question of couches.

Revisions to the housing code were written because of an increase in Athens rental properties and to protect the safety of the individuals who rent houses, said Councilwoman Nancy Bain, D-3rd Ward.

The current code was written in the 1970s. Revisions to the code were written by city council members working with code enforcement officers, Bain said.

Voting yes on the housing code issue would place the revised edition of the housing code on the books, but a no vote would leave the code in its original condition, said Debbie Walker, Athens City Council clerk.

The housing code revisions deal with a number of safety concerns, including guardrails and porch railings, electrical wiring and upkeep of property.

Housing code revisions state that the property owner shall not permit "any condition which deteriorates or debases the appearance of the neighborhood, adversely alters the appearance and general character of the neighborhood, creates a fire, safety, or health hazard or is a public nuisance."

This section of the revised code applies to dilapidated fences or walls; unusable appliances or automobile parts; the outside use of furniture or mattresses; and other items that contribute to neighborhood blight.

Revisions call for the rewiring of old houses to make electrical wiring safer, Bain said. They also include requiring painting and upkeep of exterior wood and metal to keep them clear of peeling paint.

The new housing code allows microwaves to be placed in rooms other than the kitchen, something that could not be done under the old code, said Councilman Ed Baum, R-at-large.

A section about the upkeep of porches, railings and interior and exterior stairways also was added because of safety concerns. It requires that porches and railings be fixed if broken or dilapidated, and dictates the height of railings and guardrails.

Citizens collected 533 valid signatures of registered voters to put the issue on the ballot. They needed 450.