Environmental Health Services Spotlight: Housing Program

Environmental Health Services’ (EHS) Housing Program protects the health and safety of residents and people visiting and living in San Mateo County. Inspection staff ensure property owners, managers, and tenants comply with state and local housing laws. They work to eliminate substandard housing and prevent accidents, illnesses, and diseases caused by substandard housing.

“I see so many variations in people and ways to live [being an inspector], but the one thing that everyone has in common is wanting a safe and healthy spot to call home.” – Inspector James Tanner

Staff inspect the following:

• 🛎 Hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts
• 🏢 Apartment buildings (with 4+ units)
• 🏡 Employee housing (that house 5+ employees)
• 🏕 Organized youth camps
• 🚃 Mobile home parks (within unincorporated San Mateo County)
• 🚨 Detention facilities

Staff conduct regular inspections and respond to public complaints. You have the right to clean and safe housing including, but not limited to plumbing, fire safety, heat, pests, trash disposal, and electrical.

“I believe it is a team effort between inspectors, owners, and tenants to secure and maintain a safe and sanitary home” – Inspector Maria Gomez-Casillas

Visit smchealth.org/housing to learn more about the Program and how to file a complaint.

Housing Pilot Program Off to a Robust Start

San Mateo County’s Augmented Pilot Program

Since January 2016, the San Mateo County Augmented Housing Inspection Pilot Program, approved by the County Board of Supervisors in 2015, has hit the ground running and is showing positive results. In just six months 76% of the health and safety violations reported at 348 apartment complexes targeted by the pilot have been resolved.

Are Pests Bugging You?

Use less-toxic pest control methods to help you get rid of or prevent unwanted pests.

Unwanted pests can create health risks for people. Cockroaches and rodents can cause allergies and asthma in children. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a less-toxic pest control method that reduces and prevents pest safely by denying them what they need to infest: shelter, food and water. These creepy uninvited pests need notice-you’re in charge and they’re not welcome! Here’s what you can do:

Sleep Tight, Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite

sleep tight, don’t let these pesky insects bite

Indeed, bed bugs can bite in the night and can happen anywhere, anytime and to any one.

Bed bugs can get inside homes, apartments, hotels and other locations via infested clothing, shoes, luggage, backpacks and furniture. They can travel between cracks in walls or can come find you from an infected place you visited.

See below for some information so you can stay on top of the nighttime crawler.

2016 Brings New Housing Laws

As we ring in 2016, two new housing laws went into effect starting January 1 that will impact renters, landlords and property managers. The new laws will help protect the health and safety of renters.

The first (Senate Bill 328) new law requires landlords to notify their tenants at least 24 hours before they or maintenance employees use pesticides on their property. Before this law, pesticide notification was only required when a licensed professional used pesticides.

Breaking the Mold

Source: Environmental Protection Agency

By Cynthia Knowles, Pollution Prevention Specialist, San Mateo County Environmental Health

Mold spores can grow and encase more than just walls. Clothes, shoes, photo albums, books, and paper can all be lost to spreading spores. Molds can be found almost anywhere and when the spores land on a wet or damp spot, they can easily multiply.

When living in the Presidio of San Francisco, my clothes, shoes, photographs, books, and suitcases became discolored and acquired a musty odor. Washing the items provided no relief. Every morning I used to wipe down windows dripping with condensation. My cousin suggested a dehumidifier that includes a moisture meter and my home registered more than 80% moisture levels, well above the recommended 60% or less. The dehumidifier pulled from the air an impressive amount of moisture that was converted to water once inside the internal bucket. My recurring sinus infections may have been caused by excessive moisture.

Be Carbon Monoxide Aware

carbon monoxide detectors are now required for all dwelling units

Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas found in appliances that burn fuel such as heaters, furnaces, gas stoves and fireplaces. What makes it so deadly is that it’s odorless and colorless, making it hard to know it’s around. People and animals can pass out, suffocate and in some cases die. However, there is a simple fix to that – getting a carbon monoxide detector. Installing a device is cheap and easy to save your live and the lives of others.