Dishonesty and catastrophe at every corner! What happens when you rent from an individual who doesn’t maintain an old house (when even the mailbox is broken)? Who rented it to you with known leaks in the ceiling, an oil furnace venting into the cellar, and a strong persistent gas smell from a commercial oven that was never professionally addressed (he tells you to light a pilot light when you smell gas in the kitchen on a commercial appliance)? Rather than call professionals as a responsible tenant would do, the landlord constantly asked me to go through his file of ancient appliance manuals - as if I were his repairman and property manager.

This happened along with a chimney actively venting oil furnace exhaust, soot, and creosote into the kitchen via a hole in the wall of the pantry - covering all of my cookware and pantry items (pictured).

“The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that coal tar is carcinogenic to humans and that creosote is probably carcinogenic to humans. EPA has also determined that coal tar creosote is a probable human carcinogen.” - CDC.gov

All the while, this rental didn’t have functioning fire alarms or ANY carbon monoxide detectors in the home. But, according to the landlord, it’s livable and safe.

When I said something was very wrong with the ancient oil furnace and it was making a terrible sound and I wanted someone to come look at it - he instead told me to try it again that night and in the morning again as “he’d have to pay for someone to look at it” - not concerned about me or the furnace, but having to pay for a visit.

After I said that absolutely someone needed to come and stood my ground, the professional found the furnace had been VENTING OIL FURNACE EXHAUST into the cellar of the home for ?? who knows how long. It could have been the entirety of the rental!

• Read about OIL FURNACE EXHAUST AND CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING VIA THE CDC here - oil furnace exhaust was venting INTO THE HOUSE via the cellar - but again, his home is “safe” and “livable”

If I hadn’t fought back regarding having a professional come- I’d have been continuing to smell the exhaust without carbon monoxide detectors in the home.

He also told me to keep “trying” the furnace - asking me to continue risking my health rather than address the concern. Instead I slept without heat until it was looked at and wasn’t financially compensated for this during the month of February. The home was 52 degrees overnight.

I’ll be sharing my personal experiences and the impact it had on my health as someone with allergies and asthma. I’ve only been out of the house just a few weeks - and a cough I’ve had for months (along with a chest infection) has already subsided.

If I only knew then what I know now….. I wish I’d read an honest review of the property prior to signing the lease!