How is leasing different from home ownership? What are my obligations as a renter? What can I do to keep my rental home a healthy home? What if I have an unhealthy condition in my rental home? What are my rights as an occupant? Fact sheets for occupants and renters during COVID-19 What about Residential Or Commercial Property Maintenance Codes? What is URLTA? What are the minimum standards for rental housing? Can I make an official problem? What if I reside in federal government assisted housing? Does the USDA help with occupants in backwoods? Where can I learn more about healthy housing policy? Additional resources

* * * Our Healthy Homes personnel are not doctors or lawyers. The information on our Healthy Homes Website does not provide medical or legal suggestions. This info is not an alternative to visiting your doctor or for seeking advice from a lawyer about your particular situation. * * *

3 Actions a Concerned Renter Should Do:

1. Put whatever in composing. Take pictures and videos. Save e-mails, texts, letters, and voicemails. Write a calendar of events.

2. Do not stop paying rent. It would likely protest the lease or the law. Keep your rent invoices as evidence you paid.

3. Read your lease. Whatever is composed in the lease is a legal agreement. Both occupant and proprietor have duties.

It is likely prohibited for a property manager to retaliate against an occupant who files a problem, calls Buiding Codes, or takes legal action. Changing locks, shutting off energies, showing up often, or inappropriately raising lease can be retaliation.

How is leasing different from own a home?

Renting is various from own a home in that the tenant must rely on another person to make repairs. The occupant might not have the ability to make changes to the home without permission. A renter has both rights and responsibilities. Renting can be an excellent option for many individuals to keep a healthy home environment, both inside and outdoors. Whether you rent a home, apartment, duplex, mobile home or cabin you can keep the 7 healthy homes principles. Remember that health begins at home.

What are my obligations as a renter?

Renters are responsible for cleanliness and safety. You might lease without any official arrangement, or you may have a lease agreement. The most typical type of renter in Tennessee is a tenant who signs a lease arrangement to pay lease every month throughout the year. Renters might be asked to supply a down payment. Lease contracts are legally binding agreements. You are responsible for following the regards to your lease. Some lease agreements have addendums such as pet policies, pest control agreements or for reporting water damage. You are responsible for: paying your rent on time, paying any late charges, keeping the place tidy and safe, not letting anybody else damage it, not breaking the law, getting rid of your garbage, and following your property manager's guidelines. If you break your lease, then it might become a legal problem.

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance shared Tips for First-Time Renters along with Tips on How to Spot Rental and Moving Scammers.

What can I do to keep my rental home a healthy home?

There are eight basic principles to keeping a healthy home.

1. Keep it Dry. - Damp homes provide an excellent environment for termites, roaches, rodents and molds.

1. Keep it Clean. - Clean homes assist decrease pest infestations and direct exposure to pollutants.
2. Keep it Pest-Free. - Exposure to mice and cockroaches might increase asthma attacks. Improper pesticide treatments for pest invasions can intensify health issue, because pesticide residues in homes can present health risks.
3. Keep it Safe. - Most of kids's injuries take place in the home. Falls are the most regular cause of domestic injuries to children, followed by injuries from things in the home, burns, and poisonings.
4. Keep it Contaminant-Free. - Avoid direct exposure to lead, radon, carbon monoxide gas, pesticides, asbestos and ecological tobacco smoke. Remember exposure is often greater indoors.
5. Keep it Ventilated. - Studies have revealed increasing fresh air in a home improves respiratory health.
6. Keep it Maintained. - Poorly-maintained homes are at risk of being unhealthy.
7. Keep it Thermally Controlled. - Houses that do not keep sufficient temperatures might place the safety of locals at increased risk from exposure to extreme heat or cold.
   
   If you utilize these concepts as a guide, you can maintain a safe and healthy home. If you are having an issue maintaining any of these concepts, other parts of this website will know and resources to help you.
   
   What if I have an unhealthy condition in my rental home?
   
   If you have an unhealthy condition in your rental home, then it may be your responsibility to repair the issue or it might be your property manager's obligation to make repair work. Read your rental lease agreement. Comply with any requirements for tidiness or security. Report any required repair work to the property manager as they develop. Putting your issues in composing is best. This creates a record of your issues. Repairs to your rental home should be made in a reasonable quantity of time. The quantity of time might be noted in your lease.
   
   If your landlord has actually not made repairs in a sensible amount of time, you might require to interact more straight, such as with extra written problems or an in person conference. If your property manager continues to neglect your issues, you might require to pursue legal action.
   
   Disputes in between a landlord and an occupant are civil concerns. Most landlord and occupant issues are beyond the authority of the Health Department. These concerns would be ruled on by a civil court judge analyzing the law. There are some programs that support tenants.
   
   What are my rights as a renter?
   
   According to the Legal Aid Society, as an occupant you can a livable place and to live peacefully. Your rights as a renter may vary depending on which county you reside in. The Legal Aid Society has a beneficial fact sheet to assist you comprehend your rights as an occupant. How to contact the Legal Aid Society or the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services is noted below.
   
   If your rental home needs an emergency situation repair work to keep it healthy, such as a repair work of the heat, gas, lights, water, sewage, pipes or cooling, you ought to inform your landlord right now.
   
   If the requirement for repair work in not an emergency situation, then 14 days is usually thought about as a sensible amount of time for the property manager to make repair work. Hopefully, most repair work will be made rather after a proprietor is made aware. Use your routine method of reporting needs for repair such as a website, telephone call, text, or office visit. Put something into writing to record when you made the landlord familiar with the requirement for repair.
   
   In some counties you can utilize some of your lease money to make these instant repair work. If the problem was your fault, you might have to assist pay for the repair work.
   
   You can not be dislodged of your rental home. You can not be kicked out without notification. The proprietor can not change the locks or shut down your energies to make you leave. The majority of the time, a property owner requires to go to court before evicting you. If you did something hazardous or threatening, the landlord only needs to offer you 3 (3) days to vacate. If you did not pay rent or broke your lease contract, you may be offered a thirty (30) day see to move out. If you have legal concerns about housing, you ought to speak with an attorney or legal services.
   
   The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Serices has a HELP4TN site, chatbot, and telephone to help individuals who need assist with their legal concerns. If you do not have your own attorney, this is a good site to start.
   
   If you certify based upon income or assistance status, the Legal Aid Society may be able to help. Keep in mind, Legal Aid has a client waiting list and seldom will cases happen quickly. Contact the office near you for more details.
   
   Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands - 1-800-238-1443 Offices in Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Oak Ridge, and Tullahoma
   
   Legal Aid Society of East Tennessee - 1-865-637-0484 Offices in Knoxville, Johnson City, Chattanooga, and Cleveland
   
   West Tennessee Legal Services - 1-800-372-8346 Offices in Jackson, Dyersburg, Huntingdon, and Selmer
   
   Memphis Area Legal Services - 1-888-207-6386 Offices in Memphis and Covington
   
   The Legal Aid Society produced these fact sheets to help you understand your rights and responsibilities as a renter. Click the left image for counties of 75,000 or more population and the best image for smaller counties.
   
   Anderson, Blount, Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Maury, Montgomery, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby, Sullivan, Sumner, Washington, Williamson, or Wilson
   
   Bedford, Benton, Bledsoe, Campbell, Cannon, Carroll, Carter, Cheatham, Chester, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Coffee, Crockett, Cumberland, Decatur, DeKalb, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Fentress, Franklin, Gibson, Giles, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hancock, Hardeman, Hardin, Hawkins, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Loudon, McMinn, McNairy, Macon, Marion, Marshall, Meigs, Monroe, Moore, Morgan, Obion, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Robertson, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Smith, Stewart, Tipton, Trousdale, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, Weakley, or White
   
   What about Residential Or Commercial Property Maintenance Codes?
   
   Residential Or Commercial Property Maintenance Codes or Building and Safety Codes are minimum residential or commercial property maintenance requirements. Codes can apply to residential or non-residential residential or commercial properties or both. Codes assessments can take place at any time, though they are most common with new construction or renovation. Building Codes help to ensure security within a structure. It is essential to have structures up to code. Landlords are accountable for satisfying Codes.
   
   All metropolitan locations in Tennessee have their own codes departments to implement Residential or commercial property Maintenance Codes. Many big county or local government have codes departments. Though, lots of villages and rural areas do not have any standardized minimum residential or commercial property maintenance codes. Several codes departments throughout the state have embraced the International Residential or commercial property Maintenance Code. Codes inspectors might examine electrical, pipes, gas, zoning, and other physical aspects of a home. Contact your local codes department for details particular to your area.
   
   Often Building Codes will ask if a tenant has actually already informed their proprietor about the requirement for repair work and provided the landlord affordable time to make the repair. Afterward, Buiding Codes may perform an examination. If there is an examination, make sure to ask for a copy of any notes or citations. Remember that Building Codes can only go to homes where the tenant has legal right to allow their go to.
   
   What is URLTA?
   
   Tennessee Code Annotated § 66-28 is the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. URLTA only uses in counties of higher than 75,000 population as of the 2010 U.S. Census. For these more inhabited counties, there are written requirements and securities to rental arrangements including commitments for upkeep by the property manager to comply with requirements of appropriate building and housing codes materially affecting healthy and safety, as noted in 66-28-304.( a).
   
   What are the minimum requirements for rental housing?
   
   The Tennessee Department of Health is accountable for promoting rules for minimum health requirements for rental housing. These rules belong to Tennessee Code Annotated § 53-5502 reorganized as § 68-111 in Chapter 1200-1-2. The guidelines cover basic devices and centers, light and ventilation, temperature, and sanitation.
   
   Can I make a protest?
   
   If a rental residential or commercial property breaks minimum health standards it may be unfit for habitation. According to Tennessee Code Annotated § 68-111-101, occupants whose lease is $200 or less each week might submit a grievance with their regional building inspector or county public health department. to be submitted in writing with your county health department and a copy must be forwarded by licensed mail to the property owner. A certifying problem can result in a home investigation. This part of the law does not use to occupants who pay their rent month-to-month or for a term higher than monthly. For non-qualifying problems, other building codes or regulations that the structure inspector is licensed to implement, may be relevant to house leased at greater rates.
   
   What if I live in government assisted housing?
   
   The federal government assists low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and hygienic housing in the personal market. Participants find their own housing, consisting of single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. There is a yearly Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection procedure to guarantee that homes are tidy and safe. Renters with assisted housing, such as Section 8, ought to begin by talking with the workplace that released their rental Housing Choice Voucher (HCV).
   
   The Tennessee Housing Development Agency performs contract administration for Section 8 domestic problems in 76 counties. If the residential or commercial property owner or agent is not fulfilling their duties, TDHA might step in. To find out more, call THDA at 1-800-228-THDA (8432) during typical business hours or check out the THDA website anytime. Local public housing agencies (PHAs) provide services in the other counties. Some of the regional offices are the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, Murfreesboro Housing Authority, Memphis Housing Authority, and Knox County Housing Authority.
   
   Renters who get support can call their local U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development office. Much of HUD's programs have particular requirements for housing quality. If your housing is not up to requirements, then HUD might step in to have the landlord make repair work as required. Tennessee's HUD office contact numbers are:
   
   HUD Knoxville Field Office - (865) 545-4370 Jurisdiction: Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Cumberland, Fentress, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Marion, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Pickett, Polk, Roane, Rhea, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union, Washington
   
   HUD Memphis Field Office - (901) 544-3367 Jurisdiction: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Shelby, Tipton, Weakley
   
   HUD Nashville Field Office - (615) 736-5600 Jurisdiction: Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Clay, Coffee, Davidson, De Kalb, Dickson, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Moore, Overton, Perry, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, White, Williamson, Wilson
   
   Does the USDA assist with occupants in rural areas?
   
   Yes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a rural development program. USDA helps with some 360 multi-family residential or commercial properties in Tennessee. If you have a question about residing in USDA-assisted rural housing you can call your rural development regional workplace.
   
   Where can I find out more about healthy housing policy?
   
   Our Healthy Places webpage provides more info about the places we live, work and play. Click here to find out more about healthy housing policies.
   losangeleshousing.com