Unsanitary Conditions: SIG Issued a Formal Notice to Carry Out Repairs
The social housing provider Société Immobilière de Guadeloupe (SIG) has been served with a formal notice by the préfet of Saint Martin to take measures to address substandard living conditions in three of its housing units in Saint Martin.
Earlier this year, following an assessment, the health and safety officer from the Regional Health Agency confirmed that three units located in three apartment complexes in Concordia and Cul de Sac were unfit for habitation.
In the first unit, signs of potential water infiltration were observed, along with deterioration of the walls in several rooms (swelling and peeling of the plaster), windows that were not properly sealed in three rooms, defective window frames, and the presence of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) on the property.
In the second apartment, signs of moisture and mold growth were observed on the walls and ceilings, along with significant deterioration of the walls (swelling and flaking), damage to the shower tiles, a faulty installation of the bay window in the living room, and a defective rainwater drainage system.
In the third apartment, signs of moisture and mold growth were found on the walls and ceilings, along with insufficient natural ventilation, significant deterioration of the walls (cracks, blistering, peeling), an unsafe electrical system, a defective front door, and the presence of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) on the property.
These three situations violate the Public Health Code and may pose health risks, including the onset of medical conditions (respiratory diseases, allergies), mental health issues, injuries, falling objects, electric shock, and electrocution, depending on the circumstances.
The regional health agency sent a letter in late April to the social housing provider, inviting it to submit its comments. Having received no response, the ARS turned to the préfet. The prefect has just issued a formal notice to the SIG requiring it to undertake repairs to address the hazard within six months: investigating the causes of the leaks, restoring the affected surfaces, bringing the shower installation up to code, repairing the waterproofing, and decontaminating the walls and ceilings, etc., depending on the specific units.
The préfet specifies that if the work renders the housing temporarily uninhabitable while it is being carried out, the owner will be responsible for providing alternative housing for the occupants. Furthermore, the occupants are exempt from paying rent until they receive notification of the order lifting the restriction.
Summary of the statutory provision
According to Article L. 1331-22 of the Public Health Code: “Any premises, facility, real property, or group of premises, facilities, or real properties, whether vacant or not, that constitutes—either in and of itself or due to the conditions under which it is occupied, operated, or used—a danger or risk to the health or physical safety of persons is deemed unsanitary.”
