Mayor's National Dollar Wise Campaign
Tips for RentersA Good Place to Live!(taken from HUD’s publication)
What to think about when searching for an apartment or house to rent:
- Are ceilings and walls in good condition? Are there large cracks or holes that allow drafts, large amounts of loose or falling surface material such as plaster?
- Are there enough electric outlets? Is there broken or frayed wiring, light fixtures hanging from wires with no other firm support, missing cover plates, etc?
- Are windows in good conditions? Are any windows badly cracked, broken or have missing panes, and windows that do not shut?
- Do the doors and windows have good locks that work?
- Are there storm windows/doors to help with heating/cooling costs?
- Is there chipping or peeling paint? Do you have children under the age of 7 or was the house built before 1978?
- Does the stove and oven work?
- What is the condition of the floor?
- Does a window open in rooms used for sleeping in case of a fire?
- Is there evidence of leads (stains on the ceiling)?
- Is there enough heating equipment so that the unit can be made comfortably warm during cold months? Are there space heaters or room heaters that burn oil or gas and are not vented to a chimney?
- What type of cooling/air conditioning equipment is there? Will the unit cool the apartment/house?
- Check with the utility companies (don’t take the landlord’s word!) on the cost of heating/cooling. Don’t be surprised with huge heating/ cooling costs.
- Is there insulation?
- Are there storm windows/doors?
- Is there weather-stripping around the windows and doors?
- Is there at least one smoke detector on each level of the unit, including the basement?
- Is there an alternate means of exit in case of fire such as fire stairs or exit through windows, with the use of a ladder if above the 2nd floor?
- Are there signs of rats or mice or roaches?
Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home
(taken from EPA’s publication) Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that contains lead (called lead-based paint). Lead from paint, chips and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of properly.
In general,
the older
the home, the more likely it has lead-based paint. |
The federal government banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978. Some states stopped its use even earlier. Lead can be found:
|
When looking for an apartment or house to rent, ask the date it was built. If it was before 1978, be cautious! Peeling, chipping, chalking or cracking lead-based paint is a hazard. Lead-based paint can be found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear. These include:
- Window and windowsills.
- Doors and door frames.
- Stairs, railings, and banisters
- Porches and fences.
.Lead Gets in the Body in Many Ways
1 out of every 11 children |
People can get lead in their body if they:
|
What You Can Do Now to Protect Your Family
- Notify your landlord of peeling or chipping paint.
- Clean up paint chips immediately.
- Clean floors, window frames, windowsills, and other surfaces weekly. Use a mop or sponge with warm water and a general all-purpose cleaner or a cleaner made specifically for lead. NEVER mix ammonia and bleach together since they can form a dangerous gas!
- Thoroughly rinse sponges and mop heads after cleaning dirty or dusty areas.
- Wash children’s hands often, especially before they eat and before nap time and bedtime.
- Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys and stuffed animals regularly.
- Keep children from chewing windowsills or other painted surfaces.
- Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead from soil.
- Make sure children eat nutritious, low-fat meals high in iron and calcium, such as spinach and low-fat dairy products. Children with good diets absorb less lead.
The National Lead Information Center
Call 1-800-LEAD-FYI to learn how to protect children from lead poisoning.
EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Call 1-800-426-4791 for information about lead in drinking water.
Mold
(taken from EPA’s publication)
Mold Basics:
Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.
Can mold cause health problems?
Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases potentially toxic substances.Inhaling or touching mold can cause allergic reactions in some. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. Molds can cause asthma attacks in some. Mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs
.How do I get rid of mold?
It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors. Mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present so control moisture indoors. If there is a mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem.
Who should do the cleanup?
This depends on a number of factors. One is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than a 3 ft x 3 ft patch, you can handle the job yourself. However, if there was been a lot of water damage and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) guide.
Tips!
- Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely.
- Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely.
- Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy.
- Avoid exposing yourself or others to mold.
- Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces. Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint applied over mold is likely to peel.
- You may need to consult a specialist.
- Avoid breathing in mold or mold spores. You may want to wear an N-95 respirator, available at many hardware stores.
- Wear gloves and goggles.