Bronx law firm reveals tips tenants should live by.

Lesch & Lesch, a Bronx-based law firm serving the community for over forty years, recently announced the top 10 tips for reporting dangerous household conditions to your landlord. Having represented many cases in which tenants were living in hazardous environments, the firm developed these tips to inform tenants of basic procedures to ensure a successful outcome when reporting unsafe conditions to a landlord.

"At Lesch & Lesch, we see many cases where tenants are living in poor conditions because they feel powerless, but that is simply not the case," said David P. Lesch, partner at Lesch & Lesch RC. "In the majority of instances, tenants can take a few simple steps to help alleviate and even prevent these perilous conditions from occurring."

How can dangerous household and apartment building situations be avoided? Lesch & Lesch recommends the following measures:

1. Report any dangerous and defective conditions in your apartment in writing to porter, superintendent and managing agent.

2. Send copies of all complaints by certified mail to your landlord.

3. Dangerous conditions involving lead or asbestos should be treated with the utmost care and you should be cautious and leave your apartment immediately as those substances can cause permanent brain damage.

4. Poor lighting conditions in the hallways and in the vestibule area often lead to tripping, falling and broken bones. Report any poor lighting conditions to maintenance workers of the building in writing and keep copies for yourself.

5. Broken windows can damage more than just your ability to obtain clean air. They can also cause cuts and broken fingers and lacerated tendons to your hands. Do not attempt to open windows that do not stay open on their own.

6. Minor leaks in the ceiling of your apartment are more dangerous than you think. Many times water remains in the ceiling and plaster can come crashing down. If you see a minor leak, do not touch it, but immediately report it to the building.

7. Kitchens are notorious for accidents. Hot stoves and scolding water have injured more Bronx residents than almost any other injury. Please be careful in the kitchen.

8. Carbon monoxide poisoning is not uncommon and more than one Bronx resident has died this year as a result of the injuries suffered from inhaling carbon fumes. If you smell even a slight bad odor, leave the apartment at once.

9. Document any accidents you have with written reports to superintendents, porters and managing agents.

10. In the event of accident that requires medical attention, please proceed to the nearest emergency room and be sure to tell your medical provider how the accident occurred.