Mayor Weinberger: Revise Burlington Housing Code

Are you outraged by the housing options in this city? Tired of paying an arm and a leg for substandard rentals? Appalled by what meets minimum housing standards in Burlington? The lack of safe, affordable housing poses a threat to the health of Burlington residents. One solution is to hold landlords to a higher standard when it comes to property maintenance. This means revising the City of Burlington Housing Code. The National Center for Healthy Housing developed the National Healthy Housing Standard in partnership with the American Public Health Association in recognition of the impact housing has on the nation’s health. This standard is more stringent than the City of Burlington Housing Code in key areas including: requirements for windows and exterior doors, specifications regarding natural light and ventilation, minimum interior temperature requirements, requirements for condition of bathrooms and kitchens, requirements for moisture control and pest management, and security requirements. To protect the health of tenants, the City of Burlington needs to revise the minimum housing code to align with the National Healthy Housing Standard.