Asbestos in Air - disclosure required?

[odarkshineo]

I moved into an apartment complex mid-March 09. They are older buildings (built in the 70s) that were recently renovated by a large out of town owner. In December I received a notice stating that there were concerns that in some of the other buildings they discovered high levels of asbestos. Now all of the buildings currently being renovated have asbestos warning signs posted on them. Starting last week my neighbors, who live in the same actual building I live in, are being moved out and now their apartment doors have an asbestos warning sign on them. I assume the apartments paid to move them out, as they were moved out in nice traveling crates vs the uhauls that they moved in with. The office hasn't even told me there was actual asbestos in my apartment. I can smell when my neighbor next door smokes, so I know we share air… I just purchased a house and will be moving out the 15th of April. Is the apartment complex obligated to disclose to me that I have been breathing toxic air for the past year? Should they not have tested for asbestos in a renovated building that was built in the 70s before we moved in? Should I seek a lawyer? Are they obligated to disclose their findings on air quality?

I called the office back in December, and they assured me there were no concerns they were just verifying there were no issues. They have lied about multiple other issues, so I can't really trust them on anything. They seem to be moving out a family every 3 days. We were the first family to move in, but it seems they don't plan on providing us notice since we have our 30 day notice last weekend. Families starting moving out 2 days after we gave our notice however, so they must have had notice for a few weeks.

Thank you for your time.

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

Asbestos is only an issue if disturbed. The classic example are older buildings being renovated.

From your posting it sounds as if management continues to remodel these older buildings and, after tenants have been moved out asbetos warnings are posted to acknowledge the risk during the renovation.

In other words, simply living around materials that contain asbestos but are not disturbed through, say, knocking down ceilings and walls, removing insulation, etc. is not a health risk.

Gail

 

[odarkshineo]

im still living there

Yes, but tenants are still living there...me, and another family beside me, and many families on the upper level.