![]() If you believe that you or your children have suffered harm because your landlord failed to properly tell you about planned repairs or renovations, you can report the violation to your local District Attorney or the Maine Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. Your landlord can be fined up to $500 for each violation of these notice rules. The waiver must contain specific warnings. Or the landlord can post the notices and get a signed written form, called a waiver, from an adult in each unit. This notice includes postings on all outside entry doors and a certified mail letter to all units in the building. Get legal advice.įor all places built before 1978, a landlord must give you 30 days advance notice before doing any repairs or renovations that could disturb lead-based paint. If you have a young child who has been harmed by lead poisoning and your landlord did not tell you about the lead in your building or failed to give you other required warnings, your landlord may be fined or made to pay you money. Lead Hazard Control Program, MSHA: 1-80.Lead Hazard Prevention Program, DEP: 1-80.Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.Some Community Action Programs (CAPs) can also help you with dust testing. Maine State Housing Authority 1-80 (Paint testing they can also test for lead in soil where your child plays.).The Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory at 287-2727 (Water testing).If you want to check the paint or water in your home for lead, ask your landlord for help or call one of these state agencies: This program gives other help and information, as well. They can inspect your home for free and order your landlord to remove the lead. If your child's test shows a very high level of lead, the lab will tell the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program in Augusta (see below). Ask your family doctor or clinic about lead tests. You can be tested or have your children tested for lead. What if I think there is lead paint in my apartment? Office of Local Public Healt h - find your local public health officerĪlso, the non-profit agency Maine Indoor Air Quality Council (626-8115) is a reliable resource and posts useful information. Drinking water (questions about public water supply): 287-2070.Drinking water (questions about private well water): 86 or 20, TTY: Call Maine Relay 711.If you cannot get local help, you may be able to get some help from these state agencies:įind the state electrical inspector for your location However, this is unusual: in most cases, the town will give your landlord a chance to fix the problem before ordering everyone to leave. If the conditions in your home are very dangerous, a code or health officer might order everyone to leave the building. Also, each town must have a local plumbing inspector to enforce state and local plumbing-related rules. ![]() State law also requires each town to have a health officer, who can inspect and order that unhealthy conditions be fixed. If your town has a building code enforcement officer, you can ask that person to visit your home to inspect the problems, and send the landlord a letter demanding that they fix any code violations. You can use this form repair request letter to your landlord.Ĭall your city hall or town office and ask to speak with someone about the problems in your building. If your landlord does nothing, write a formal letter to your landlord. It is a good idea to ask for this in writing, like in a text message or email. ![]() Read more details about heat issues and what to do about them.Īsk your landlord to fix the problem. The heating system should be able to heat your living space to at least 68°. you do not have electricity, running water, or hot water.missing or broken smoke or carbon monoxide detectors.broken windows or exterior doors that cannot be locked.there are insects, rats, or mice inside your house.no heat or too little heat in the winter.Maine law gives tenants an "implied warranty of habitability." This means that your landlord must promise that your home is safe and healthy to live in.Įxamples of problems your landlord has a duty to fix: En español Does my landlord have to keep my home safe and in decent condition?
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