|
A new policy brief from Jackson County Public Health (JCPH) "Improving Tenant Health: A Proactive Approach Through Rental Inspection Policies," highlights the crucial correlation between housing quality and resident well-being in Eastern Jackson County (EJC). As explored in the brief, renters are more likely to live in houses with severely inadequate plumbing, heating, wiring, and general upkeep. These conditions contribute to problems like asthma, mold exposure, pest exposure, and childhood lead poisoning. Most housing code enforcement programs only require an inspection after a complaint has been filed. But cities with proactive rental inspection (PRI) programs can reduce the length of time that property violations remain unaddressed. “Rental inspection policies serve as proactive measures to identify, rectify, and prevent housing issues in rental homes,” Meghan Senne, MPH, Health Policy Coordinator at JCPH said. “These policies protect tenants from living in chronically inadequate conditions, and ultimately promote the overall livability and well-being of the entire community.” Jackson County Public Health highlights the cities in EJC that already have a PRI in place, and calls on other cities in our jurisdiction to implement similar policies. Cities of any size or capacity can participate. The following municipalities currently have PRI programs in place:
These municipalities all require inspections before rental units can receive a permit or certificate, as well as routine follow-up inspections. “The City of Grandview first implemented this program to ensure families and individuals have access to safe and healthy housing,” Grandview Mayor Leonard Jones said. “After five years, I can confidently say this program is working. By inspecting units and homes between a change of tenants, our inspector can identify necessary repairs to protect future tenants. This program is one of the many ways Grandview is improving the quality of life for its residents.” Such interventions also enjoy broad community support. In JCPH’s 2023 Community Health Assessment Survey, 77% of survey respondents expressed support for a program that would establish health and safety standards for rental housing units. Through encouraging proactive rental inspection policies and providing data on the impact of inadequate housing conditions, Jackson County Public Health aims to uphold essential health and safety standards in rental properties. JCPH states the policies not only safeguard tenants from potential health risks but also foster a more robust sense of community well-being. By holding landlords accountable for maintaining safe and livable housing, cities can lay the groundwork for a healthier environment conducive to the flourishing of all residents. For further details, the full policy brief "Improving Tenant Health: A Proactive Approach Through Rental Inspection Policies," can be found here.  Comments are closed.
|
Categories
All
Archives
May 2025
|
RSS Feed
