9-1303. Material affect on health and safety of
occupants


For the purposes of this chapter, a condition that materially affects the
health and safety of the occupants of a residential rental dwelling unit includes any of
the following conditions:


1. Inadequate sanitation, ventilation or space requirements, including the
following:


(a) Lack of or inadequate water closets, lavatories, bathtubs or showers.


(b) Lack of a required kitchen sink or a kitchen sink that does not comply with the
building code of the city or town in which the property is located.


(c) Lack of hot and cold running water to plumbing fixtures.


(d) Lack of adequate heating and cooling.


(e) Lack of or improper operation of required ventilating equipment or broken or
missing windows or doors that create a hazardous condition or a potential attraction to
trespassers.


(f) Lack of minimum amounts of natural light and ventilation as required by the
building code.


(g) Inadequate room and space dimensions as required by the building code.


(h) Lack of required adequate electricity and lighting as required by the building
code.


(i) Infestation of insects, vermin or rodents.


(j) Lack of connection to a sewage disposal system as required by the building
code.


(k) Lack of adequate garbage and rubbish storage and removal facilities.


2. Structural hazards, including the following:


(a) Significantly deteriorated or inadequate foundations or foundation areas that
are not provided with adequate drainage.


(b) Flooring or floor supports of insufficient size to carry imposed loads with
safety.


(c) Members of walls, partitions or other vertical supports that split, lean, list
or buckle due to defective material or deterioration.


(d) Members of ceilings, roofs, ceiling and roof supports or other horizontal
members that significantly sag, split or buckle due to defective material or
deterioration.


(e) Fireplaces or chimneys that list, bulge or settle due to defective material or
deterioration or that are of insufficient size or strength to carry imposed loads with
safety.


3. Hazardous wiring that does not conform with the building code or that has not
been maintained in good condition, or both, and that is not being used in a safe manner.


4. Hazardous plumbing that does not conform with the building code or that has not
been maintained in good condition, or both, and that is not free of cross-connections and
siphonage between fixtures.


5. Hazardous mechanical equipment including vents that do not conform with the
building code or that have not been maintained in good and safe condition and that are
not working properly.


6. Faulty weather protection that may include:


(a) Significantly deteriorated, crumbling or loose plaster.


(b) Deteriorated or ineffective waterproofing of exterior walls, roof, foundations
or floors, including broken windows or doors.


(c) Defective or lack of weather protection for exterior wall coverings, including
lack of paint, or weathering due to lack of paint or other approved protective covering.


(d) Broken, rotted, split or buckled exterior wall coverings or roof coverings.


7. Fire hazards or inadequate fire protection, including:


(a) Any building or portion of a building or any device, apparatus, equipment,
combustible waste or vegetation that is not in compliance with the building code and that
is in such a condition as to cause a fire or explosion or to provide a ready fuel to
augment the spread and intensity of a fire or explosion arising from any cause.


(b) Any building or portion of a building that is not provided with fire-resistive
construction or fire extinguishing systems or equipment required by the building code,
except those buildings or portions of buildings that conformed with all applicable
building code laws and that have fire-resistive integrity and fire extinguishing systems
or equipment that has been adequately maintained and improved in relation to any increase
in occupant load, alteration or addition, or any change in occupancy.


(c) Lack of adequate fire detection systems as required by law.


8. Faulty materials or construction that is not specifically allowed or approved by
the building code or that has not been adequately maintained in good and safe condition.


9. Hazardous or unsanitary premises, including those premises on which an
accumulation of weeds, vegetation, refuse, dead organic matter, debris, garbage, offal,
rat harborages, stagnant water, combustible materials and similar materials or conditions
constitute fire, health or safety hazards.


10. Inadequate maintenance, including any building or portion of a building that is
determined to be an unsafe building in accordance with the building code.


11. Unhealthy conditions, including any condition as defined in the building code
that results in the failure to maintain minimum standards of sanitation, health or safety
or that renders air, food or drink unwholesome or detrimental to health.


12. Inadequate exits, including all buildings or portions of a building that are not
provided with adequate exit facilities as required by the building code and that have
been adequately maintained and increased in relation to any increase in occupant load,
alteration or addition, or any change in occupancy.


13. Improper occupancy, including all buildings or portions of a building that are
occupied for living, sleeping, cooking or dining purposes and that were not designed and
permitted to be used for such occupancies, or that are occupied in excess of the maximum
occupancy load allowed by any applicable provision of the building code or state law.