Living in an older house-rookie question
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Anonymous
| DH and I are considering renting a house in a great neighborhood where we could barely, if at all, afford to buy. It is way too small for us to consider owning permanently, but it's in our prime location and right now we are in a 1-bedroom with dd and our pet. Anyway, it was built in the early '30s; is there anything I have to worry about re:lead or asbestos-based paint? We will probably hammer a few nails into the wall but other than that, as long as we don't stand over the dust with our mouths open, or allow dd to lick the walls, we are good, right? Anything else to consider with an older home? Thanks! |
Anonymous
| Lead dust usually comes from opening and closing old windows -- so check to see if the windows have been replaced in the last 10-15 years (if so, no lead worries unless there is peeling old paint). Other than that, no big worries. In fact, most exposure only comes during renovations (removing abestos tiles, stripping paint). Just make sure you have a good landlord who will pay for any repairs. |
Anonymous
| Another consideration is your utility costs. Factors that could result in high utility costs are: insulation quality, type of windows, heating or cooling systems. The cost range for a house of any size is wide; with a 1930s house you could be at the top end of the range. Try to find out what the previous renters were paying. |
Anonymous
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Also make sure the paint is in good condition - not per lining, chipping etc. With a 1930s house I would assume there is lead and anytime you do any painting or sanding follow lead safe practices.
Another thing to ink about is the major house systems such as electric and plumbing. In particular, if the electrical wiring has not been updated do some research. I think that houses of that era used a type of wiring that becomes a fire hazard with age. If the box is old it might need replacing to handle modern electrical needs. And if the pipes are original you are inevitably going to need to do some plumbing work if you own the place for any length of time. Is there a basement? Check carefully for signs of water damage or mold. Look for water stains on the walls. |
Anonymous
| Op here: central ac, radiators in each room. Good insulation in attic. |
Anonymous
| The previous owner lived there for years but maintained it really well. The new owner snapped it up at years end but is leasing it before moving in a year-and-a-half from now. |
Anonymous
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Great house, even though it's tiny. If it's the one I'm thinking of...
re: lead paint - it could be in the soil around the house from exterior paint. the dog might track in trace amounts from the soil. be sure to always always wash your DD's hands after playing outside or before eating. use a swiffer or lightly damp mop to wipe floors regularly (to pick up any potential lead dust). I was pg when we bought our older home and went a little nutso on the lead dept so I researched it extensively. With a little cleaning & washing hands you should have very little to worry about. I have my 3 kids tested every year and they are way way below the threshold. if you have mold allergies/sensitivities you can look at air filters/purifiers and dehumidifiers to help with that. if it's even an issue at all. |
Anonymous
| radiant heating is awesome BTW - you'll love it if you haven't had it before. |
Anonymous
| I guess I'm also uneasy because the owner will probably tear it down when he finally moves in. So if there ARE these issues, I get concerned that they will be addressed in the cheapest way to appease us and move on. Anyway, deep thoughts... |
Anonymous
The most important factor in this decision is probably your landlord. Some are awesome, and really care about making their tenants happy and comfortable. Some will *say* they care about having happy tenants, but then cheap out on the actual work and cop major attitude if you ask for basic functionality and civil treatment. In this area, the latter are far too common, sadly. If you can talk with the landlord and get a decent sense of whether or not they're a jerk, that would be ideal. |
Anonymous
This is the situation I'm in now - renting from an owner who plans on demolishing the existing house and re-building because the land is worth so much more than the house (and the existing house is small). The owner/landlord definitely skimps on everything (read: insulation), and it's really, really frustrating. |
Anonymous
What I try to remember, as a renter, is that I'm only here for a little while. It would be grand if my landlord(s) kept their properties in pristine condition. It would be smart of them to do high-quality work once and call it good for the long term, rather than trying to get away with cheap fixtures and work. But, ultimately, that's going to be their problem. My concerns are basic safety and functionality issues. Safety is easy. There's a housing code, and a code enforcement agency to match. If you find basic safety issues, you'll have help. The habitability issue stuff will be taken care of (though you may have to deal with some attitude in the process; landlords aren't exactly known for their generosity or even tact). The "niceness" issues, well, those you might have to compromise on. But, remember: You're moving. Maybe not this week, this year, or even in the next 5 years, but eventually, you're moving out. All you really need is a safe place to live until you can buy your own home and make it "right" for yourself and your family. Finding a landlord who isn't a jerk just makes that process easier. 
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Anonymous
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You will have lead paint. If the house is freshly painted and you keep it clean, you shouldn't have many issues. If you use a cleaning lady, have her wipe the window sills and around the doorways with a damp cloth when she goes through the house.
You almost certainly won't have asbestos. Regarding the owner being cheap with repairs, its possible. But repairing is different than renovating. Unless you're asking for complete lead paint abatement (which the landlord won't and shouldn't agree to do), I don't know what kind of massive repair you'd end up disagreeing over. |
Anonymous
oh bummer! if it's the house that I'm thinking of... |
Anonymous
^ that the new owner will tear it down |