hud.gov
How is leasing various from home ownership?
What are my duties as an occupant?
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 a renter?
Fact sheets for tenants and occupants throughout COVID-19
What about Residential Or Commercial Property Maintenance Codes?
What is URLTA?
What are the minimum requirements for rental housing?
Can I make a protest?
What if I live in federal government assisted housing?
Does the USDA help with occupants in backwoods?
Where can I find out more about healthy housing policy?
Additional resources
* * * Our Healthy Homes personnel are not doctors or attorneys. The information on our Healthy Homes Website does not offer medical or legal advice. This information is not a replacement for visiting your doctor or for speaking with an attorney about your specific scenario. * * *
justice.gov
3 Actions a Concerned Renter Should Do:
1. Put whatever in composing. Take photos and videos. Save emails, texts, letters, and . Write a calendar of occasions.
2. Do not stop paying rent. It would likely be versus the lease or the law. Keep your lease receipts as evidence you paid.
3. Read your lease. Whatever is composed in the lease is a legal agreement. Both renter and landlord have obligations.
It is most likely unlawful for a property manager to strike back versus a renter who submits a complaint, calls Buiding Codes, or takes legal action. Changing locks, shutting off energies, appearing frequently, or wrongly raising rent can be retaliation.
How is renting various from home ownership?
Renting is different from home ownership because the occupant need to count on another person to make repair work. The occupant might not have the ability to make changes to the home without consent. A tenant has both rights and responsibilities. Renting can be a great alternative for many individuals to preserve a healthy home environment, both indoors and outdoors. Whether you rent a home, home, duplex, mobile home or cabin you can keep the 7 healthy homes principles. Keep in mind that health begins at home.
What are my responsibilities as a renter?
Renters are accountable for cleanliness and safety. You may lease with no official contract, or you might have a lease contract. The most common type of tenant in Tennessee is a tenant who signs a lease arrangement to pay lease each month throughout the year. Renters might be asked to supply a security deposit. Lease agreements are lawfully binding agreements. You are accountable for following the regards to your lease. Some lease agreements have addendums such as pet policies, bug control agreements or for reporting water damage. You are responsible for: paying your lease on time, paying any late costs, keeping the place clean and safe, not letting anyone else damage it, not breaking the law, dealing with your garbage, and following your proprietor's rules. If you break your lease, then it may end up being a legal problem.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance shared Tips for First-Time Renters in addition to Tips on How to Spot Rental and Moving Scammers.
What can I do to keep my rental home a healthy home?
There are 8 fundamental concepts to preserving a healthy home.
1. Keep it Dry. - Damp homes offer an excellent environment for mites, roaches, rodents and molds.
2. Keep it Clean. - Clean homes help reduce bug infestations and direct exposure to contaminants.
3. Keep it Pest-Free. - Exposure to mice and cockroaches might increase asthma attacks. Improper pesticide treatments for pest invasions can aggravate illness, considering that pesticide residues in homes can position health risks.
4. Keep it Safe. - The bulk of children's injuries take place in the home. Falls are the most regular cause of domestic injuries to kids, followed by injuries from things in the home, burns, and poisonings.
5. Keep it Contaminant-Free. - Avoid exposure to lead, radon, carbon monoxide, pesticides, asbestos and ecological tobacco smoke. Remember exposure is often higher inside your home.
6. Keep it Ventilated. - Studies have actually revealed increasing fresh air in a home enhances breathing health.
7. Keep it Maintained. - Poorly-maintained homes are at danger of being unhealthy.
8. Keep it Thermally Controlled. - Houses that do not preserve appropriate temperature levels may put the security of residents at increased danger from direct exposure to extreme heat or cold.
If you use these principles as a guide, you can maintain a safe and healthy home. If you are having an issue maintaining any of these principles, other parts of this website will know and resources to assist you.
What if I have an unhealthy condition in my rental home?
If you have an unhealthy condition in your rental home, then it might be your duty to fix the issue or it may be your property manager's duty to make repair work. Read your rental lease agreement. Comply with any requirements for cleanliness or safety. Report any required repairs to the landlord as they arise. Putting your issues in composing is finest. This creates a record of your issues. Repairs to your rental home should be made in a reasonable quantity of time. The amount of time might be noted in your lease.
If your proprietor has not made repair work in an affordable quantity of time, you may require to interact more directly, such as with additional composed complaints or an in person meeting. If your landlord continues to neglect your concerns, you may need to pursue legal action.
Disputes in between a property owner and an occupant are civil concerns. Most property manager and occupant concerns 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 an occupant?
According to the Legal Aid Society, as an occupant you deserve to a livable location and to live quietly. Your rights as a renter might differ depending on which county you reside in. The Legal Aid Society has a helpful fact sheet to help you understand your rights as an occupant. How to call the Legal Aid Society or the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services is listed below.
If your rental home requires an emergency repair work to keep it healthy, such as a repair work of the heat, gas, lights, water, sewage, pipes or cooling, you need to signal your property manager right now.
If the requirement for repair in not an emergency situation, then 2 week is typically thought about as a reasonable amount of time for the proprietor to make repairs. Hopefully, the majority of repairs will be made much quicker after a property owner is made mindful. Use your regular approach of reporting needs for repair such as a site, phone call, text message, or workplace go to. Put something into writing to document when you made the landlord familiar with the requirement for repair.
In some counties you can utilize a few of your rent money to make these instant repairs. If the problem was your fault, you may have to help pay for the repair work.
You can not be dislodged of your rental home. You can not be evicted without notice. The proprietor can not change the locks or shut down your energies to make you leave. Most of the time, a property owner requires to go to court before evicting you. If you did something hazardous or threatening, the proprietor just needs to offer you three (3) days to move out. If you did not pay rent or broke your lease arrangement, you might be provided a thirty (30) day see to leave. If you have legal concerns about housing, you must talk to an attorney or legal services.
The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Serices has a HELP4TN site, chatbot, and telephone to help people who require assist with their legal issues. If you do not have your own legal representative, this is a great website to start.
If you certify based on income or support status, the Legal Aid Society may have the ability to assist. Remember, Legal Aid has a client waiting list and seldom will cases take place quick. Contact the workplace near you for additional information.
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 created these reality sheets to help you understand your rights and duties as a renter. Click the left image for counties of 75,000 or more population and the ideal image for smaller sized 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 domestic or non-residential residential or commercial properties or both. Codes assessments can occur at any time, though they are most common with new building and construction or remodelling. Building regulations assist to make sure safety within a building. It is necessary to have structures up to code. Landlords are accountable for meeting Codes.
All urban locations in Tennessee have their own codes departments to implement Residential or commercial property Maintenance Codes. Many large county or local government have codes departments. Though, many towns and rural locations do not have any standardized minimum residential or commercial property maintenance codes. Several codes departments across the state have adopted the International Residential or commercial property Maintenance Code. Codes inspectors may inspect electrical, pipes, gas, zoning, and other physical aspects of a home. Contact your regional codes department for info particular to your location.
Often Building regulations will ask if a tenant has actually already informed their property manager about the need for repair work and given the property owner sensible time to make the repair. Afterward, Buiding Codes may perform an assessment. If there is an evaluation, make certain to request a copy of any notes or citations. Remember that Building Codes can just visit homes where the occupant has legal right to permit their visit.
What is URLTA?
Tennessee Code Annotated § 66-28 is the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. URLTA only applies in counties of greater than 75,000 population as of the 2010 U.S. Census. For these more populated counties, there are written requirements and protections to rental contracts including commitments for maintenance by the property owner to comply with requirements of relevant structure and housing codes materially affecting healthy and security, as noted in 66-28-304.( a).
What are the minimum standards for rental housing?
The Tennessee Department of Health is accountable for promulgating rules for minimum health requirements for rental housing. These guidelines become part of Tennessee Code Annotated § 53-5502 reorganized as § 68-111 in Chapter 1200-1-2. The rules cover standard equipment and centers, light and ventilation, temperature level, and sanitation.
Can I make a protest?
If a rental residential or commercial property breaks minimum health requirements it may be unfit for habitation. According to Tennessee Code Annotated § 68-111-101, tenants whose rent is $200 or less per week may file a problem with their regional structure inspector or county public health department. Complaints require to be submitted in writing with your county health department and a copy should be forwarded by licensed mail to the landlord. A certifying complaint can lead to a home investigation. This part of the law does not apply to occupants who pay their rent month-to-month or for a term higher than monthly. For non-qualifying grievances, other building regulations or regulations that the building inspector is authorized to implement, might be applicable to domestic home rented at greater rates.
What if I live in federal government assisted housing?
The federal government assists low-income families, the senior, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and hygienic housing in the personal market. Participants discover their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. There is a yearly Housing Quality Standards (HQS) assessment treatment to ensure that homes are tidy and safe. Renters with assisted housing, such as Section 8, ought to start by talking with the office that provided their rental Housing Choice Voucher (HCV).
The Tennessee Housing Development Agency carries out contract administration for Section 8 residential issues in 76 counties. If the residential or commercial property owner or representative is not fulfilling their duties, TDHA might intervene. To learn more, call THDA at 1-800-228-THDA (8432) during regular business hours or visit the THDA webpage anytime. Local public housing firms (PHAs) supply services in the other counties. A few of the local offices are the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, Murfreesboro Housing Authority, Memphis Housing Authority, and Knox County Housing Authority.
Renters who get help can contact their local U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development workplace. Many of HUD's programs have particular requirements for housing quality. If your housing is not up to standards, then HUD might step in to have the proprietor make repair work as required. Tennessee's HUD workplace 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 tenants in rural locations?
Yes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a rural development program. USDA assists 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 advancement local office.
Where can I discover more about healthy housing policy?
Our Healthy Places website offers more information about the locations we live, work and play. Click here to get more information about healthy housing policies.
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Healthy Homes - Renters
holliepruett36 edited this page 2025-08-20 00:27:00 +08:00