Monday, July 26, 2010

Rental Inspections Will Help Bellingham Get the Lead Out

A recent article in the Bellingham Herald (click here to read the piece), spoke to the problem of interior lead contamination (from lead based paint) in homes, primarily those built before 1978. The article also spoke to the issue of Bellingham’s aging housing stock. [Zonemaven note: 50% of our housing consists of rentals and virtually none is inspected for life/safety issues, to include lead based paint.] Not surprisingly, Jon Martin, the development manager at the Building Performance Center in Bellingham was quoted in the article as saying, “We have an older housing stock here. We do a lot of testing and definitely see plenty of houses with lead-based paint…”

Removal of lead based paint is a hazardous process. Identifying the presence of lead based paint is not for amateurs, be they landlords or renters. Nor is it for amateurs to identify structural, electric, plumbing, ventilation and mold problems, which is the reason we need rental licensing and inspection in Bellingham. I call on the City Council and the Mayor to place lead paint contamination on the list of items to be inspected in a comprehensive rental licensing and inspection code.

4 comments:

shiffersmith said...

Its a serious issue as lead paint is harmful for health...It must be investigated ...nice and innovative posting....villa spanien

Zonemaven said...

Yet opponents of licensing and inspection will tell you that informed renters will solve the problem, as if renters had the expertise to do so.

Malarie said...

Thanks for the article. My husband and I are buying a house and want to get it tested for lead, mold, etc. Do you know a good company in Bellingham that does testing? Thanks

Zonemaven said...

Sorry I don't know of any companies in Bellingham that I could recommend. Suggest you check Angie's list or some similar referral service.