When construction takes place with tenants in their suites, there are a number of legal and safety considerations that the Healthy Housing Advocate should be aware of.
| Please note that most of these issues will have been addressed through the specifics of the construction contract. In this case, it is your job to be aware of the terms of that contract. However, you may also encounter situations that have not been anticipated in the contract. If so, it is important to ask for clarification from the Contract Administrators. REMEMBER: TENANT RIGHTS ARE WRITTEN INTO LAW!
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Know the tenant rights in your jurisdiction: Be aware of mandatory notice-of-entry requirements, any requirements for formal identification or security accompaniment when entering a suite, and factors which permit the tenant's right to refuse entry.
Know how to recognize and act when tenants are in crisis: Be prepared. Develop a procedure in case you enter a suite and encounter violence, harassment, mental illness, hoarding, or illegal activity. Who will you inform? What action will be taken and by whom? Learn to identify when you or the tenant are in an unsafe situation, requiring adjustments to the planned construction schedule.
RESOURCE: Office of Consumer Affairs - Landlord and Tenant Relations