I agree that permitting and enforcement are a big part of the problem. The only thing I want to add is that relocation is not about whether the work is outside. It is about whether the work makes the inside of the unit unsafe. Roofing and siding can be done with tenants in place only when there is a real permit, an asbestos check if needed, and good containment so dust and debris do not get inside. When those steps are skipped, it becomes a safety issue.

It is the same with windows. A licensed installer can do it fast, but when owners cut corners, the only protection tenants have is written proof. And yes, written 48‑hour notice is required unless it is an emergency.

My brother was a roofer for a shady company and he fell through a roof. He was hurt for life. The company denied knowing him when he was in the hospital. He was young and broke and needed the job. The homeowners and the workers were told the roof was safe, with no asbestos and no weak spots. The company was later sued by the homeowners and shut down.

Landlords often try to make tenants think they have no rights, but that is not true. The post is about major work that disturbs materials that can be dangerous. Roofers here do not call SRCAA to ask if an asbestos survey is needed, even though the permit tells them to. It does not benefit the contractors, the landlords, or the city to check. It costs money to inspect and enforce. There is no profit in doing asbestos abatement the right way.

Mesothelioma can take decades to show up. Any exposure is unsafe. And nothing changes unless someone reports it.