Here are the steps you should take when reporting rental housing Health & Safety code violations:
1. Research the Issue
Use information from in state trusted sources to make sure the issue truly is a code violation. State law requires the tenant not create or contribute to the noncompliance of the dwelling unit.
2. Notify Your Landlord
If there are violations in your rental property, start by submitting a written request for repairs. In case there are any issues moving forward, make sure to take pictures and keep documentation related to the housing code violations.
3. Give Your Landlord a Chance to Make Repairs
Give Your Landlord a Chance to respond to your request for repair—unless the issue poses an immediate threat to you or the other tenants. if the problems are extremely severe, the state fire marshal or health & safety Officer may require the landlord to fix the problem immediately.
4. File a complaint with Division of Fire Safety and Schedule an Inspection
If your landlord does not address the code violations, it’s time to contact the Division of Fire Safety file a complaint and ask for an inspection. During the inspection, make sure to show all the housing code violations clearly. Have the inspector write down all the cold violations. You may also ask for a signed copy of the inspection report.
5. Landlord Receives the inspection report
The State Fire Marshal or Health & Safety Officer will then send the report to the landlord. The landlord will be given a fixed timeframe wherein he must complete all the necessary repairs. issues that pose an immediate threat to life must be resolved immediately or the building may be closed by order of the Fire Marshal.
