Hi there, I had a home inspection done today on a home (built in 1947) but neither my hubby nor I know virtually anything about what to look for in homes. We were told to be sure that the foundation was in good condition so I looked up how we would do that- by checking for cracks especially around door's and window's corners or along the siding outside, making sure doors open and close squarely, making sure there isn't any bowing of the walls inside and out and all of that checked out except we and the inspector noticed what appeared to have been a crack starting along the top of the wall going across the ceiling but it looks like it had been repaired (you could tell their was some kind of tape over it) and it had been painted over. The inspector said it probably wasn't a big deal and since I didn't notice any of the other signs I assume he is right.. But I thought I would check here for some opinions. I don't want to buy a house that's going to collapse! haha thanks in advance!

I'm living in a rental building in Brooklyn, NY that was built pre-1940s-50s. Workers came in without prior warning the other day while we were at work and tore out a section of our bathroom wall, saying later that they needed to do repairs on the plumbing connected to another apt. Since they didn't bother to clean up, this left a lot of paint chips, debris and dust particles everywhere, including on our toiletries. I'm mainly concerned about the lead dust since the building was built before the 1950s and lead paint/pipes were used in over 75 percent of homes then. Also, we've had to sign numerous notices from our landlord over the years about lead in the building. The workers came again today to finish the job, and we've told them to cover most of the bathroom and create some barrier so that the dust doesn't spread everywhere. Some of it already spread to the kitchen while they were drilling and taking out tiles. Yet now they are pretty much just closing the door and maybe putting down a tarp on the floor. I doubt this is sufficient; it seems each time they open the door the dust will keep spreading. I think there are laws that state the prevention of lead dust from spreading, and I've read up on some related to home renovation, but I'm not sure the law applies to a plumbing job in such a small area. I feel like what they've done is in violation and hazardous to our health, especially since the dust is now in our kitchen and possibly the study where we have clothes/books, etc. I've called the landlord about cleaning up the mess and taking precautions about the dust, but he's not putting direct pressure on the workers. I think this is the last day they're doing the repairs, so I'm more concerned about the aftermath. What are my rights as a tenant in this situation and what should I do? We don't have children, but I've read that lead can negatively affect adults. THANKS