AUGUSTA — When someone dies in an apartment, a lot more than a vacancy can be left behind for landlords to deal with.
Landlords and property managers also could be left with blood and other biohazards that make the unit unsafe to rent out again without taking the proper precautions.
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On Wednesday, in a training session organized by the Augusta Housing Authority in partnership with MaineHousing and Waterville Housing Authority, landlords, property managers and others can learn what they need to do to make sure their apartments are safe and legal to rent out after an unattended death, suicide, violent crime or other incident likely to leave behind biohazards.
Same, too, for landlords with apartments that tenants may have used as makeshift meth labs or for other activities that could leave something behind which could pose a risk to future tenants.
“Unfortunately, suicide and unattended deaths happen fairly frequently,” said Amanda Bartlett, executive director of the Augusta Housing Authority, a quasi-municipal organization that distributes federal housing vouchers and provides other housing assistance in the area.
“Most landlords that I have talked to have had an unattended death or suicide occur at least once. It is always hard because landlords and housing staff build relationships with tenants over the years so when something happens it is typically very difficult emotionally.”
Bartlett said landlords need to know how to properly dispose of blood or body fluids that may have seeped into walls, floors or the air, and the proper way to clean to make sure the apartment is safe to rent to someone else.
“A new tenant could become very sick or even die if the biohazards are not taken care of properly,” she said.
Providing the training, which is free and takes place from 2-5 p.m. at the Augusta City Center, is 24-Trauma, a Massachusetts-based firm specializing in biohazard cleaning.
The company cleans up crime scenes, including where homicides and natural deaths occurred and the bodies have decomposed, where meth labs operated and other difficult situations.
Bartlett said the firm’s work included the clean-up needed after a man recently barricaded himself in the Camden Rite Aid before shooting himself with a shotgun, as well as the Boston Marathon bombings.
The firm’s website says owners Mike and Al Wiseman have 20 years of experience in the business.
The training is open to anyone but targets property managers, landlords, maintenance staff and other housing professionals.
Those interested in attending should register by emailing Bartlett at amanda.bartlett@augustahousing.org.
The training is part of the new Healthy Housing Seminar Series of Augusta Housing Authority, Waterville Housing Authority and MaineHousing. Other seminars are planned to cover topics including the life safety codes rental units must meet, radon, bedbug control, smoke-free housing initiatives and lead paint hazards.
“The trainings will all focus on improving health and safety in area housing,” Bartlett said. “We are aware (biohazards) is an area where landlords need more education, and unlike other topics, this training is rarely offered. We wanted to offer this as the first training in our series for that reason.”
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