159 Bridge Street #1 Certificate of Fitness Letter 8-16-2019 a CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS lu
BOARD OF HEALTH
98 WASHINGTON STREET,3""FLOOR Pub&HP.alt1
SALEM,MA 01970 Prevent.Promote.Protect.
TEL. (978) 741-1800
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL health salem.com DAVIT)Gm,, NBAUM,RS
MAYOR HEALTH AGENT
August 16,2019
Fawwaz Abu-Rubyah
144 Western Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139
Dear Sir/Madam:
In accordance with Chapter III, Sections 127A and 127B of the Massachusetts General Laws, 105 CMR 400.00; State Sanitary Code, Chapter
1: General Administrative Procedures and 105 CMR 410.00:State Sanitary Code,Chapter 11: Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human
Habitation, an inspection was conducted of the property 159 Bridge Street#1 conducted by Elizabeth Gagakis,Senior Sanitarian on
August 2, 20.19 at 10:00am.
Notice: if this rental unit is occupied by a child or children under the age of 6 years, it is the property owner's responsibility to notify tenants of
lead related reports and tests,and to ensure that this unit complies fully with 105 CMR 460:000: Regulations for Lead Poisoning Prevention
and Control. For further information or to request an inspection, contact the Salem Board of Health at 978-741-1800.
You are hereby ORDERED to make a good-faith effort to correct the violations listed on the enclosed inspection report and to take all positive
action to prevent these violations from occurring again in the future.
Failure on your part to comply within the time specified on the enclosed inspection report will result in a complaint being sought against you in
Trial Court. Time for compliance begins with receipt of this Order.
Should you be aggrieved by this Order,you have the right to request a hearing before the Board of Health. A request for said hearing must be
received in writing in the office of the Board of Health within 7 days of receipt of this Order. At said hearing,you will be given an opportunity to
be heard and to present witness and documentary evidence as to why this Order should be modified or withdrawn.You may be represented by
an attorney. Please also be informed that you have the right to inspect and obtain copies of all relevant inspection in investigation reports,
orders and other documentary information in the possession of this Board,and that any adverse party has the right to be present at the
hearing.
Please be advised that the conditions noted may enable the occupant(s)to use one or more of the statutory remedies available to them as
outlined in the enclosed inspection report form.
For t4re
d of Health Reply to:
DavidA Elizabeth Gagakis
Healt Senior Sanitarian
cc: tenant
Certified mail—7017 1450 0001 5936 5927
r
CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSE'I`TS
BOARD OF HEALTH
98 WASHINGTONST^^REET,3RD FLOOR ftblicHedth
SALEM,MA 01970 Prevent.Promote.Protect.
TEL. (978)741-1800
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL health salem.com D.AvID GRLENBAUM,RS
MAYOR HEALTH AGENT
State Sanitary Code, Chapter II: 105 CMR 410.000
Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation
Occupant: Gilbert Eaton Owner: Fawwaz Abu-Rubyah
Phone number: (978) 810-9810 Address: 144 Western Ave
Address: 159 Bridge St#1 Cambridge, MA 02139
Salem, MA 01970
Inspection Date: August 2, 2019 Time: 10:00am
Conducted by: Elizabeth Gagakis Accompanied By: Occupant
Specified Time Reg. #410. Violation(s)
Based upon a tenant complaint a permitted inspection was conducted in accordance with
Article II of the State Sanitary Code, 105 CMR 410.000. Upon inspection, the following
were noted:
24-48 hours .550 1. Tenant had complaint of mice in the unit. At the time of inspection, mouse
droppings were observed in the kitchen. Owner to hire services of a licensed
exterminator to inspect and treat the unit for mice; treatments must continue until
problem is abated. Tenant must comply with any direction or recommendation from
exterminator to assist in eliminating the mice. Owner to forward invoices for service
to the Board of Health for our records. Owner to correct this violation within 24-48
hours.
7 days .551 2. Bathroom window is missing a screen. Provide a screen for this window; screens to
be installed between April 1 and October 30, both inclusive, every year. Owner to
correct this violation within 7 days.
7 days .500 3. The toilet is loose. Secure/repair toilet so it is intact and in good condition. Owner
to correct this violation within 7 days.
One or more of the above violations may endanger or materially impair the health, safety and well-being of the occupant(s)
Code Enforcement Inspector
. Este es un document legal importante. Puede que afecte sus derechos. Puede adquirir una traduccion
de esta forma.
LEGAL REMEDIES FOR TENANTS OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSING
AGE FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE LEGAL REMEDIES TENANTS MAY USE IN ORDER TO GET HOUSING
DDE VIOLATIONS CORRECTED}.
Rent ftiWiding(General Laws Chapter 239 Section 8A)
If Code Violations Are Not Being Corrected, you may be entitled to hold back your rent payments. You can do this
wifhout being evicted if,
A. You can prove that your dwelling unit or common areas contain code violations which are serious en
ough to
endanger or materially impair your health or safety and that your landlord knew about the *Wdons before you were
behind in your rent
B. You did not cause the violations and they can be repaired while you continue to live in the building.
C. You are prepared to pay any portion of the rent into court if a Judge orders you to pay it. (For this it is best to put the rent
money aside in a safe place.)
Repair and Deduct(General Laws Chapter 111 Section 127L)
The law sometimes allow you tQ-use your rent money to make the repairs yourself. If your local code enforcement
agency certifies that there are code violations which endanger or materially Impair your health,safety or well-being and
your landlord-has received written notice ofAhe violations, you may be able to use this remedy. If the owner fails to
begin necessary repairs (ter to enter Into a written contract to have them made) within five days alter notice or to
complete repairs within 14 days after notice you can use up to four months rent in any year to make the repairs.
Retaliatory Rent Increases or Evictions Prolu't>ited(General Laws Chapter 186.Section 18 and Chapter 239 Section 2A).
The owner may not Increase your rent or evict you in retaliation for making a complaint to your local code enforcement
agency about code violations.-If the owner raised your rent or tries to evict within six months after you have made the
complaint he or she will have to show a good reason for the Increase or eviction which.is unrelated to your complaint.
You may be able to sue the landlord for the damages If he or she tries this.
Sent Rec6tersiup(General Laws Chapter 111 Section 127C-H).
The occupants andfor the board of health may petition the District or Superior Court to allow rent to be paid into court
rather than to the owner. The court may then appoint a "receiver"who may spend as much of the rent money as is
needed to correct the violation. The receiver Is not subject to a spending limitation of four months rent.
3ieach of Warranty of Habitability.
You may be entitled to'sue-your landlord to.have all or some of your rent returned If your dwelling unit does not
meet minimum standards of habitability.
lniair and Deceptive Practices(General Laws Chapter 93A).
Renting an apartment with code violations is a violation of the consumer protection act and regulations for which you
may sue an owner.
INFORMATION PRESENTED ABOVE IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE LAW.BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO WITHHOLD YOUR RENT
TAKE ANY OTHER LEGAL ACTION, IT IS ADVISABLE THAT YOU CONSULT AN ATTORNEY. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO -
ISULT AN ATTORNEY,YOU SHOULD CONTACT THE NEAREST LEGAL SERVICES OFFICE WHICH IS.
North Shore Community Action Programs Inc. Northeast Housing Court
98 Main Street 2 Appleton Street
Peabody,MA 01960 Lawrence,MA 01840
(978)531-0767 (978)689-7833