Healthy, Safe, and Habitable Housing Units

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Disclaimer 

La información y los recursos proporcionados en este sitio no constituyen, ni pretenden constituir, asesoramiento legal; en cambio, toda la información, el contenido y los materiales disponibles en este sitio son solo para fines informativos generales. La información en este sitio se proporciona "tal cual"; no se garantiza que el contenido esté libre de errores ni que constituya la información legal o de otro tipo más actualizada.

本网站提供的信息和资源不构成也无意构成法律建议；相反，本网站上提供的所有信息、内容和材料仅供一般参考。本网站上的信息“按原样”提供；不保证内容没有错误，也不构成最新的法律或其他信息。

The information and resources provided on this site does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. The information on this site is provided “as is;” no representations are made that the content is error-free nor constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.

Basic housing safety and sanitation requirements, such as installing fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, help ensure longevity of housing units. The resources below will help keep your dwelling unit healthy, safe, and habitable for years to come.

Fire and Home Safety Preparedness 

North County Fire Authority provides fire and other emergency services to residents of Brisbane, Daly City, and Pacifica. NCFA has a number of helpful safety preparedness resources available on their website, including:

• How to install Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• How to Reduce Falls (including how to make your home safer)
• Kitchen Safety
• Fire Safety for People with Disabilities
• Fire Extinguisher Guide
• Pet Fire Safety Tips
• Child & Family Hazard Preparedness

Heathy Homes 

A Healthy Home Checklist (US Department of Housing and Human Services)

A healthy home is one that is constructed, maintained, and rehabilitated in a manner that is conducive to good occupant health. The checklist and accompanying illustration from HHS shows key action steps to take in each room and area of your home to ensure it remains a healthy home.

Healthy Homes Maintenance Checklist (National Center for Healthy Housing)

This checklist from the NCHH was developed for the Healthy Homes Training Center and Network as a tool for healthy home maintenance.

Rental Unit Habitability 

Maintenance Checklist

The maintenance checklist part of the What Should Be Maintained and Provided at a Rental Property handout is a guide to help tenants and landlords identify maintenance issues that may affect habitability. Please see below for more information related to what should be maintained at your rental property and the visit our Tenants and Landlords webpage for additional resources specific to rental units. 

International Property Maintenance Code

The nation’s model housing or property maintenance code is the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) and it is updated every three years. The IPMC is managed by the International Code Council (ICC) and the latest version was adopted by the City of Brisbane (BMC §15.04.040).

The following IPMC handout identifies some of the IPMC's provisions related to healthy housing units.

Rental Property Maintenance 

Property OWNer/LANDLORD RESPONSIBILITIES

In California, it is well established that property owners must live up to the “implied warranty of habitability.” The State Supreme Court ruled that owners of rental properties must provide tenants with a safe and sanitary place to live. In addition, since rental units typically are business investments for property owners, most owners want to keep them safe, clean, attractive, and in good repair to generate income and increase property value. Therefore, as an owner of a residential rental property, it is the landlord's responsibility to maintain their properties in accordance with the applicable codes and standards. Note, landlords are not responsible under the implied warranty of habitability for repairing damages that were caused by tenants or their family, guests, or pets.

The following links provide additional information about implied warranty of habitability:

Tenant Rights to a Livable Place - Nolo

California Landlord Responsibilities for Habitability - iProperty Management

Deficiency that could make a rental unit uninhabitable

There are many kinds of deficiencies that can make a rental unit uninhabitable. For example, a rental unit may be considered uninhabitable if it contains a lead hazard that endangers the occupants or the public, or is a substandard building because of a structural hazard, inadequate sanitation, or a nuisance endangers the health, life, safety, property, or welfare of the occupants or the public.

In addition to above mentioned conditions, make sure that your rental property does not contain the following conditions (this is not a comprehensive list):

• Blocked Exits
• Inoperable Fire Equipment (usually stand pipes & fire doors)
• Wedged Open or Blocked Fire Doors
• Locked Exit Doors
• Unlit Exits or Lack of Exit Lighting
• Missing/Inoperable/Defective Smoke Alarms
• Missing/Inoperable/Defective Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• Uncharged/Missing Fire Extinguishers
• Damaged Walls & Ceilings
• Peeling Paint
• Missing/Torn Insect Screen
• Broken Doors, Windows & Cabinets
• Damaged Floors/Floor Coverings
• Damaged/Missing/Inoperable Drainboards & Plumbing Fixtures
• Damaged/Missing/Inoperable Electrical Fixtures
• Lack of Heat
• Inadequate Electrical Service
• Defective Drainage
• Plumbing Leaks
• Plumbing Fixture Surface Damage
• Lack of flow of Hot and Cold Water
• Electrical Equipment not Securely Mounted
• Exposed Wires
• Missing Electrical Cover plates
• Illegal Construction
• Illegal Electrical Work
• Illegal Plumbing Work
• Illegal Unit
• Illegal Use/Occupancy

In addition to the above, the rental unit must “substantially comply” with building and housing code standards that materially affect tenants’ health and safety.

For Tenants: Rental Unit Habitability RESOURCES

The law is very specific as to what kinds of conditions make a rental unit uninhabitable. If you believe that the home you are renting is uninhabitable, it is best to document those conditions with photographs or written repair requests with descriptions and date of the problem and how long that condition has been occurring. The handout on What Should Be Maintained and Provided at a Rental Property provides examples of habitability issues versus minor repair problems. Please refer the California Landlord & Tenants Guide covering the rights of tenants and landlords if you are concerned about your rights related to habitability.

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