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TENANT SAFETY CHECKLIST: Asbestos, Lead, Radon, Carbon Monoxide, and Pests
LEGAL RESOURCES: Landlord Disclosure, Rental Accessibility, and Energy Efficiency Law
“A tenant has the right to live in a home that is in reasonable repair, fit for use as a proper home, meets local housing codes, and is reasonably energy efficient.”
2020 Minn. Stat. § 504B.161 COVENANTS OF LANDLORD OR LICENSOR.
Navigating Lead as a Safety Concern in Your Home
It is required that tenants are notified if there is lead in a house in the leasing agreement (Federal Landlord Lead Disclosure Law: Section 1018 of Title X)
It is the legal responsibility of landlords to perform lead hazard reduction (abatement or removal), the tenant is not liable (2020 Minn. Stat. § 144.9504)
The EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) requires all firms, renovators, and contractors performing RRP projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, childcare facilities, and preschools built before 1978 be lead-safety certified by the EPA. Failure of a firm, renovator, or contractor to comply could result in fines of up to $37,500. This does not apply to homeowners or renters, however, anyone doing renovation that may disturb lead- based paint should consult the EPA’s “Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Do-It- Yourselfers” webpage for the latest lead-safety practices.
Houses built before 1980 are likely to have a layer of lead paint
In these houses, lead paint is a health risk (even if painted over) when it is on “friction surfaces” such as windows, window sashes, doors, or door frames.
See 2020 Minn. Stat. § 144.9504 Subd. 2 to determine whether your household qualifies for a free lead risk assessment conducted by the city community health board
Navigating Asbestos as a Safety Concern in Your Home
Note: Where properly encased and untouched, asbestos does not pose a risk to renters’ health
It is required that tenants are notified if there is asbestos in a house in the leasing agreement (2020 Minn. Stat. § 504B.195)
Looks like a white cast cover wrapped around heating pipes (often found in the basement)
Wrapped around old gravity-fed boilers
Asbestos shingles
Textured paints (such as popcorn ceilings or ceiling tiles)
Asbestos in Depth and Who Can Help
Your Guide to Hiring an Asbestos Abatement Company