My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: California
My landlord is greedy and shady. My landlord has never disclosed the presence of toxic substances that are present in my rental and around the complex. Asbestos in units (gas heater pipe), lots of vehicle exhaust (door is 3 feet from main driveway), mold, tobacco smoke, bug spray every month, etc, etc.
Landlord/property agent employs more than 10 people, so I believe they should also have a prop 65 warning sign posted on the property in common area(s)?
25249.6. Required Warning Before Exposure To Chemicals Known to Cause Cancer Or Reproductive Toxicity. No person in the course of doing business shall knowingly and intentionally expose any individual to a chemical known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity without first giving clear and reasonable warning to such individual
I have read there are some severe penalties for not disclosing the presence of these chemicals, sometimes to the tune of $2500/day penalty. What I am not clear on is how to go about it. I see the Calif Attorney General can get involved with the complaint http://oag.ca.gov/prop65
My end goal here: My landlord has broken a serious law regarding health/safety, and has been charging higher rent than is warranted for a rental that does shave some dangers. I would like discounted rent going forward (not indefinitely, but for a good while), and for as many of the toxic substances to be removed/minimized as possible.
In my lease, I have agreed to mediation before pursuing court action, what is a good way to get this ball rolling? I see they need to be served with a 60 day prop 65 violation letter, but I am not clear on if I need an attorney to do that, or if I should do it less formally. Or do I immediately Efile with attorney general? This management company has something like 700 rental units, and I guarantee they are violating prop 65 for each tenant. I want to maintain leverage here.

