Summary
This bill requires that prior to the execution of a rental or lease agreement a landlord must notify prospective tenants of the results of tests for known contamination, conducted pursuant to the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program or Navigation Law.  Additionally, landlords would be required to notify current tenants of the results of such tests.

Explanation

Contamination of indoor air caused by vapor intrusion is increasingly a public health and environmental concern.  Vapor intrusion is the migration of volatile chemicals from buried contaminated waste or contaminated groundwater into buildings located above such contamination.  In some instances vapor intrusion can cause chemicals to accumulate in dwellings in amounts sufficient to cause health problems.

In New York State, prior to the sale and transfer of property, home buyers must be notified of certain environmental threats, including the presence of volatile chemicals.  There is no such notification requirement for those who rent or lease property.  This bill would eliminate this unequal treatment of renters by providing for notification to non-owner residents of property when the landlord has been notified of the results of a test for the presence of a known contaminant, including vapor intrusion.

Environmental Advocates of New York supports this bill.