Understanding Radon in Rental Properties: A Guide for Tenants and Landlords in York County

When I first moved into a rental house in York County a few years ago, radon was the last thing on my mind. I was worried about the security deposit, the leaky faucet in the kitchen, and whether the landlord would fix the broken window before winter. It wasn't until a neighbor mentioned testing her basement that I even thought about the invisible gas that can seep up through the soil and into homes. That conversation changed how I looked at rental housing and made me realize how much confusion surrounds radon in rental properties.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. It moves up through the ground and can enter buildings through cracks in foundations, gaps around pipes, and other openings. The EPA estimates that radon causes thousands of lung cancer deaths each year, and it is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. For renters, the challenge is that they often have little control over what happens in the building itself. The landlord owns the structure, the foundation, the ventilation. But the tenant breathes the air. This creates a tension that needs to be addressed through clear communication and, in some cases, through local rental housing code requirements.

Why Radon Is a Special Concern for Renters

Unlike a leaky roof or a broken furnace, radon does not announce itself. It has no smell, no taste, and no color. You cannot see it settling in the corner of a bedroom or feel it in the air. The only way to know if it is present is to test for it. And that is where the relationship between landlord and tenant becomes critical. In many rental situations, the tenant may not have the authority to order a professional radon test or to install a radon mitigation system. They might not even know that radon could be an issue in their building.

There is also the question of responsibility. Who pays for the testing? Who pays for mitigation if levels are high? In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection provides guidance on radon but does not have a statewide law that requires landlords to test for radon or to fix high levels. Some local jurisdictions have started to address this through rental housing codes, but it is far from universal. That leaves tenants in a gray area where they have to advocate for themselves, often without much leverage.

Testing: The First Step You Can Take

If you are a renter concerned about radon, the best place to start is with a simple radon testing kit. These kits are inexpensive and widely available at hardware stores, online, and sometimes through local health departments. A short-term radon test takes between two and seven days and gives you a snapshot of the radon level at that time. It is a good way to get initial data. But if you really want to understand the average level over time, a long-term radon test that runs for 90 days or more is more accurate because radon levels can fluctuate with weather, soil moisture, and how the building is used.

I remember doing a short-term radon test in that rental house in York. I placed the kit in the lowest livable area, which was the basement family room, and kept windows closed as much as possible during the test period. When I sent the kit to a lab and got the results back, the number was above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L. That was a wake-up call. I had to decide what to do with that information and how to approach my landlord.

Landlord Responsibilities and Tenant Rights

Landlord responsibilities around radon vary widely depending on where you live. In some states, landlords are required to disclose known radon levels to prospective tenants. In Pennsylvania, there is no such requirement for rentals, though sellers of homes must disclose known radon hazards. That means a tenant might move into a property with a known radon problem and never be told. It is a gap that tenant advocacy groups have been working to close for years.

Tenant rights in this area are also limited. If a tenant tests and finds high radon levels, they can ask the landlord to fix the problem, but the landlord may not be obligated to act. Some landlords are willing to work with tenants because they understand the health risk and the potential liability. Others may resist due to cost or lack of information. The key is to approach the conversation with facts and a clear plan. Bring your test results. Explain what the EPA recommends. Offer to split the cost of a radon mitigation system if that helps move things forward.

For landlords who want to be proactive, installing a radon mitigation system is a sound investment. The most common system for houses with a basement or slab-on-grade foundation is sub-slab depressurization. This involves running a radon vent pipe from below the concrete slab up through the roof and attaching a radon fan that creates suction, pulling radon-laden soil gas away from the building and venting it outside. A soil gas retarder, usually a heavy plastic sheet, can also be placed under the slab during new construction or major renovations to block the gas from entering in the first place. For crawlspaces, crawlspace ventilation is often the best approach, either through passive vents or an active fan system.

Practical Steps for Tenants

If you suspect radon in your rental but do not want to wait for the landlord to act, there are a few things you can do on your own. First, get a radon testing kit and run a short-term radon test. Follow the instructions carefully. If the results come back high, talk to your landlord in a calm, informed way. You can also look into a continuous radon monitor, which is an electronic device that tracks radon levels over time and gives you hourly readings. These are more expensive than a one-time test but can provide a clearer picture of the pattern of radon entry in your space.

Another thing to consider is radon in water. If your rental gets its water from a private well, radon can enter the air when water is used for showering, washing dishes, or other household tasks. The primary health risk from radon in water is actually inhalation of the released gas, not drinking the water. Point-of-entry treatment systems, such as an activated carbon filter or aeration systems, can remove radon from water before it enters the house. This is something a tenant can discuss with the landlord if they are on a well system.

New Construction and Prevention

For landlords building new rental units, radon-resistant new construction techniques are worth every penny. These include placing a layer of gravel under the foundation, covering that with a soil gas retarder, and installing a radon vent pipe that can later be connected to a fan if needed. The cost of adding these features during construction is minimal compared to retrofitting a system later. The EPA has clear guidelines on radon-resistant construction, and many builders in York County are familiar with them.

I spoke with a local contractor who builds townhouses in the York area, and he told me that most of his clients now ask for radon-resistant features as standard. It is becoming a selling point, not just a regulatory checkbox. That shift in mindset is encouraging because it means prevention is being taken seriously from the start.

Building a Culture of Awareness

Radon in rental properties is not going to fix itself. It requires awareness from both tenants and landlords, and a willingness to invest a little time and money into testing and mitigation. The good news is that radon levels can almost always be brought down with the right system. A properly designed radon mitigation system can reduce levels by 99 percent or more. That is a huge win for health and peace of mind.

If you are a tenant in York County reading this, I encourage you to start with a radon testing kit. It costs less than a pizza dinner and could tell you something important about the air you and your family are breathing. If the results are high, do not panic. Talk to your landlord. Share the EPA recommendations. Offer to help find a qualified radon mitigation contractor. Most landlords want to keep their tenants safe and healthy, and they may simply not know where to start.

And if you are a landlord, consider testing your properties proactively. It is a small step that can prevent a major health issue and protect you from potential liability down the road. A simple test and, if needed, a radon mitigation system can make your rental safer and more attractive to health-conscious tenants. It is also just the right thing to do.

Radon is a serious health risk, but it is one we can manage with the right knowledge and tools. The more we talk about radon in rental properties, the more we normalize testing and mitigation. That is how real change happens - one conversation, one test, one system at a time.