(Erin N. Marcus, M.D.)...Whenever I diagnose a person with asthma or allergies, I usually ask a few questions about his or her living environment. Is there shag carpeting in the bedroom? Is the air conditioning filter changed every month? Is there evidence of roaches and other vermin? I ask these questions because mold, dust mites, animal saliva and insect droppings can worsen the symptoms of asthma and other illnesses. But some of my patients tell me it’s impossible to do anything to reduce their exposure to such toxins. The reason? They live in rental housing. Like a lot of doctors, I’m not particularly well-versed in the law. To find out more about the legal rights of my patients who rent, I spoke with two experts on the subject — Dr. Megan Sandel, a pediatrician who serves as medical director of the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership , and Janet Portman, a California lawyer who wrote a book on renters’ rights, Every Tenant’s Legal Guide . I was most interested in asthma, but their advice is useful for anyone with a disability or with a health problem that can be worsened by things in the environment. If you rent and think the condition of your housing is worsening your health, you should first determine whether your building is “fit and habitable” under state and local laws. Local housing codes can vary from state to state, but if you live in section 8 or other federally-sponsored housing , it has to abide by federal standards , which often are stricter than local rules. According to Every Tenant’s Legal Guide , every state except Arkansas requires rental housing be kept in “livable condition” – meaning it must have safe electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilation systems, an intact structure, and clean and safe hallways and stairs.

Join BBN for free to post a comment. If you already have an account, please login here to post a comment. You will be returned to this page after logging in.