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4A Guide to Proactive Rental Inspection Programschangelabsolutions.org <br />INTRODUCTION <br />Substandard conditions in the home are responsible for a wide array of significant <br />health problems, such as childhood lead poisoning; exacerbated asthma and respiratory <br />conditions that result from exposure to mold, pests, and other household allergens; and <br />increased rates of injury and mortality among the elderly. As rental housing is more likely <br />to be substandard than owner-occupied housing, tenants are at higher-than-average risk. <br />Local governments can play a critical role in improving resident health by implementing <br />programs to improve the quality of their housing stock. <br />Most localities maintain code enforcement programs to ensure the safety and welfare <br />of their citizens. Traditionally, these programs have been complaint-based; that is, in <br />response to a resident complaint about a substandard housing condition, a municipal <br />code enforcement officer will conduct a housing inspection and, if the complaint is <br />substantiated, the officer will begin enforcement proceedings. <br />Proactive rental inspection (PRI) programs are different. Under a PRI program, most <br />covered rental units are inspected on a periodic basis to ensure that they are safe and <br />habitable, and that property values are maintained. Typically, inspections take place at <br />designated intervals, though they may also be triggered by an event, such as a change in <br />tenancy. While the hallmark of proactive rental inspection programs is that inspections <br />are not complaint-based, localities with proactive rental inspection programs generally <br />conduct complaint-based inspections too. <br />This guide: <br />1. describes the advantages of proactive rental inspection programs; <br />2. details the components of PRI programs and provides an overview of options for <br />program design; <br />3. examines challenges that may arise in implementing PRI; and <br />4. suggests broader strategies for success when adopting a PRI program. <br />LOCALITIES: TOWNS, CITIES, <br />COUNTIES AND OTHER FORMS <br />OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT <br />Throughout this document, the term <br />“localities” refers to towns, cities, <br />counties, and other forms of local <br />government. State and local law will <br />determine which local governmental <br />body governs relevant code <br />enforcement activities. <br />SUBSTANDARD HOUSING <br />AND HEALTH <br />Substandard housing conditions <br />pose an acute risk to young children, <br />seniors, and people with chronic <br />illnesses.1, 2, 3 Nationwide, more than <br />23 million people have asthma; it is <br />the most common chronic ailment <br />among children in the United <br />States.4 , 5 By one estimate, 39% of <br />asthma cases in children under 6 can <br />be traced to residential exposure to <br />indoor air hazards.6 Housing-related <br />injuries result in roughly 4 million <br />emergency room visits and 70,000 <br />hospital admissions.7 Nationwide, in <br />2000, there were an estimated 1.8 <br />million falls leading to emergency <br />room visits among those age 65 and <br />older; the majority of falls take place <br />within the home.8 Exposure to lead <br />paint chips and related dust are the <br />leading cause of elevated lead levels <br />in children in the U.S.9