An asbestos lawyer is the only one who can evaluate your case objectively and tell you how much your claim might be worth so donāt hesitate to ask for ā¦
A lawyer can help you draft an effective letter to your landlord (see below) and talk to you about your legal rights and options for tenants exposed to asbestos. If you are thinking about taking action, like withholding rent, you should first talk to a lawyer who specializes in tenant rights about what self-help measures are allowed under your state and local laws.
Feb 01, 2013Ā Ā· Asbestos in the condominium ā now what? The Condominium Act, 1998, SO, c.19 (the āActā) is sometimes inaccurately viewed as addressing all things related to the function and maintenance of a condominium corporation. The common law and other legislation greatly affect how a corporation must be managed pursuant to section 27 (1) of the Act ...
Jun 19, 2018Ā Ā· We at FERRO Environmental bring a strong combination of asbestos removal experience and expertise ā including trained and insured technicians ā to readily tackle any job, including Type 1 and Type 2 asbestos abatement work in your condominium.
hire any (even just one) outside contractors for repairs or maintenance, regardless of how many units the oversee, or. employ more than ten people. The exact protective measures landlords must take in their buildings varies, and depends on how workers will interact with asbestos.
So long as asbestos is intact, it isn't much of a health risk. However, renovations or other disturbances to a building's structure or fixtures (such as damage from an earthquake, collapse, or even punching a hole in a wall) can release asbestos fibers into the air.
A tenant could argue that because asbestos poses such serious health risks, its presence is a breach of the implied warranty of habitabilityāespecial ly when signs of deferred maintenance or serious wear and tear indicate that asbestos fibers could be airborne.
Inhaling or ingesting these fibers can cause mesothelioma and other serious health issues. Just because asbestos is present in a rental does not mean a landlord is legally obligated to remove it. When asbestos is not in danger of becoming airborne through deterioration or disturbance, the law doesn't require removal.
Because the danger has been disclosed, though, they usually cannot sue the landlord later if the asbestos has not been removedāunless the landlord promises to remove the asbestos and then fails to do so.
Although asbestos is no longer widely used in construction, it is still present in many rental properties built before 1981. Insulation, heating ducts, ceilings (especially "popcorn" ceilings), vinyl flooring, roofing, drywall, and plaster are just a few examples of common asbestos-containing materials in older buildings.
Aside from the fact that landlords must comply with OSHA's rules (which in effect require all landlords of pre-1981 buildings to take at least minimal protective measures), landlords have a duty under most states' laws to provide tenants with livable rentals.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibre-like substance. There are two kinds of asbestos in use: serpentine and amphibole, though the most popular form is serpentine, specifically chrysotile. This form of asbestos has a thin, fibre-like form that can easily be woven, which made it very popular in the construction and manufacturing industries.
Asbestos is an easily āfriableā substance, i.e. itās easily crushable into a powdered form that can be inhaled into oneās vital organs. Those exposed to asbestos over a long period of time are at critical risk of developing certain forms of cancer, including lung cancer and mesothelioma.
The federal government began moving on a complete asbestos ban in January 2018 through its Prohibition of Asbestos and Asbestos Products Regulations bill. Although this legislation will ban asbestos use moving forward, itās unclear how it will address asbestos in existing buildings.
As it stands today, condominiums are obliged to ensure that there is no risk of tenants being exposed to asbestos. Thus, as long as there is no structural damage to your plumbing, ceilings and/or drywall, then legally speaking, you should be compliant with current regulations.
If youāre undertaking a renovation project that could involve disturbing your asbestos containing material, then youāre required to follow federal and provincial regulations for asbestos handling and removal. Simply put, any and all exposure to asbestos becomes a compliance issue.
To fully ensure compliance, health, and safety of everyone involved ā i.e. from workers, tenants to the surrounding area ā you will require a professional asbestos abatement company to take on your asbestos removal project. Any other way would simply expose your building to severe health risks and, potentially crushing legal issues.