How to report a property owner to the health department

Reasons for Reporting and Actions to be Taken by the Health Department

The landlord is responsible for maintaining the rental property in a habitable condition. If there are health or safety issues in the property that violate the warranty of habitability, the tenant can contact a local agency regarding the problem. Learn how to report a property owner to the health department.

Reasons to Report a Property Owner

There are some health and safety issues that may prompt a tenant to file a complaint with the health department. These include:

1. Pests: A tenant can report the landlord if their apartment or rental property shows signs of mice, rats, cockroaches, bed bugs, or other pests.

2. Mold: Mold in living spaces is dangerous as it can cause breathing problems or more severe reactions.

3. Lead: Lead paint is common in homes built before 1978. Lead hazards, such as peeling paint, can pose health risks, especially to young children.

4. Lack of running water, electricity, or heat: Tenants need access to essential services in their apartments. Tenants can report the landlord if there is no running water in their apartment, if they have no heat in the winter, or if the landlord is responsible for paying utility bills and there is no electricity in the property.

5. Plumbing fixtures: Tenants have the right to have working plumbing in their apartment.

6. Waste removal: A tenant can report the landlord if garbage and other waste are not being removed from the property.

7. Structural issues: If water leakage from the ceiling is causing the ceiling to collapse or if the tenant has concerns about other structural issues in the property, the tenant can contact the health department.

Submitting a Notice

In most cases, you must first notify the landlord of the problem before filing a complaint with the health department. This is to give the landlord a chance to fix the issue if they are unaware of it.

This notice should be delivered in writing to the landlord. Depending on the landlord-tenant laws in your state, the landlord may be required to respond and fix the issue within a specific timeframe before you take further action.

Filing a Complaint

If the landlord has not taken any action to fix the problem, you can file a complaint with the local health department. It will be helpful to include the following information with your complaint:

– Your name

– Property address

– Name of the landlord or property management company

– Nature of the complaint

– When the problem started

– How long the problem has been ongoing / its frequency

– Whether you have contacted the landlord

– Landlord’s response

Actions to be Taken by the Health Department

Once you file a complaint with the local health department, the department will take steps to determine whether there is any truth to your claim. A health inspector will:

– Inspect the property: An official from the health department will be sent to inspect the property. The official will investigate the tenant’s complaint to determine if there is a current health violation in the property. The inspector may also notice any other apparent health violations present in the property during their visit.

– Prepare a report of their findings: The health official will prepare a report of their findings at the property. The report will include the property address, date of inspection, health violations found in the property, and the timeframe within which the landlord must correct the violations.

– Send the report/list of violations to the landlord: If any violations were noted at the property by the health official, the official will send a copy of the inspection report to the landlord.

– Give the landlord time to fix the problem: The landlord will be given a certain number of days from the date of receipt of the violation notice to correct any outstanding issues. Once the landlord has addressed the health violations, the landlord can contact the health department to request a re-inspection of the property.

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Re-inspection of the property and issuance of a compliance letter: The inspector will return to the property to verify that the health violations have been rectified. Then, a letter will be issued to the owner indicating that the property is now in compliance with health standards.

– Fining the owner: If the owner fails to correct the health violations, or does not do so within the specified timeframe, the health department may impose a fine on the owner.

Exceptions

The owner is not responsible for health violations on the property caused by the tenant. Tenants are responsible for maintaining their rental unit and adhering to certain health and safety laws. The owner is not liable for issues caused by tenant misconduct, neglect, or unsanitary living conditions, such as pest infestations due to filthy living conditions inside the tenant’s apartment.

Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-to-report-a-landlord-to-the-health-department-4159515