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Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It is released during the natural decay of uranium, which is found in most rock and soil and its occurrence in the state is influenced primarily by geology. Although certain areas of the state are more likely to encounter radon problems than other areas, radon is a house-to-house issue. You may live in an area of low radon potential yet; your house can have elevated radon while your neighbor's house has no radon. Radon is odorless, invisible, and without taste, and cannot be detected with the human senses. The only way to detect it is to test for it.
Asbestos
Asbestos is well recognized as a health hazard and is highly regulated. An estimated 1.3 million employees in construction and general industry face significant asbestos exposure on the job. Heaviest exposures occur in the construction industry, particularly during the removal of asbestos during renovation or demolition. Employees are also likely to be exposed during the manufacture of asbestos products (such as textiles, friction products, insulation, and other building materials) and during automotive brake and clutch repair work.
Rental properties to be registered
This law divides residential rental properties into three groups, based on dates of their construction:
- Before 1950
- From 1950 through 1977
- 1978 and after
Under this law, effective since October 1994, more than 50,000 rental dwelling properties have already been registered wit the MDE. Owners must register every residential dwelling unit built before 1950 and pay an annual fee of $10.
Owners of other properties-those built from 1950 through 1977-who choose not to participate, must pay a fee of $5 per unit per year. Those who do participate pay $10 per unit per year. All registrations must be renewed annually.
Owners of properties built after 1977 are permitted to join the program and submit to its requirements if they chose to do so.
Fair Housing
Persons who believe they have been discriminated against in a property transaction-whether it be of real property of of personal property-because of their race, color, religion. sex, familial status national origin, and disability, martial status, my petition a federal court to order an end to the discrimination.
They may choose, however, to file an complaint with the Maryland Human Relations Commission if they have experienced discrimination in a "residential real restate-related transaction."
Complaints to the Commission must be made within one year of the alleged discriminatory action or the end of such action, whichever is later. Complaints must be made in writing and under oath. |