Inspecting Landlords Structures?

[Mule]

So, I'm at a four plex the other day working for a landlord that never shuts up. So, while I'm replacing a lav fxtr and finding splices in the walls, I'm listening to this landlord tell me about a city hall meeting last night.

This mtg is where the city is starting to require inspections on rental units. So all of the landlords show up in groves, and are claiming that this world is turning into a socialist minded, and is invading on the privacey of the landlords to the point they cant make any money. At the head of this pact is an attorney that just bought over a hundred of the most junky structers in town.

So she went on and on....and finally I let loose, and told her IMO the town was full of turn of the century homes, brittle K&T, attic splices, lead pipes, lead paint, no insulation, and the old old houses had not been properly maintained, and frankly were fire hazzards. And the old phrase that "you can throw a cat through the wall" was not too far off. Then I asked her "why does a landlord buy a house like that?" because its cheap that's why !!!

So my main point was that the tennant deserved the right to rent a product that was safe, and that if no one ensured that the structure was safe, making money would always win, and the tennant and their families would always loose in reguard to the safety of structure in which they live in.

This country is full of towns with these old old homes and many of them are junk.....So in this world of AFCI, GFCI's, temp controlled showere faucets, etc, what about the old crusty, junky structures and tennants that alot of time dont know any better, as what they are living in.

So what's your thoughts???? I'm really a conservative minded person, but I feel for these tennants.....

oops Ive posted this in the wrong thread, can a moderator re-place it please...thanks mule

 

[480sparky]

I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it. You can't save the world, and neither can I.

If you really want to do something, go the the next meeting and tell them some of your horror stories.

 

[boboelectric]

My thoughts are all the people losing their houses are going to become renters,needing safe housing.

 

[SEO]

This kind of story can be told in every city in the country. Sad but it is very common.

 

[Mule]

I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it. You can't save the world, and neither can I.

If you really want to do something, go the the next meeting and tell them some of your horror stories.

Not loosing sleep at all, and not trying to save the world, but I do believe we need better inspections on old structures. So while we put so much efforts into AFCI's why shouldnt codes be more focused on structures that clearly are much much more dangerous.....

 

[cadpoint]

This mtg is where the city is starting to require inspections on rental units.

I don't know how much of this is public knowledge, and it was a couple of years ago, it had to be either a local City or the State of NC, that made a Law to require that all landlords are required to install some form of Heat in their rentals!

 

[SEO]

Some communities have rental inspections and do make inspections. However most of the inspectors are not licensed trade inspectors. At least in my area. They have check list that they follow looking for basic items. Gfcis , smoke alarms etc.

 

[Volta]

. . . So my main point was that the tennant deserved the right to rent a product that was safe, and that if no one ensured that the structure was safe, making money would always win, and the tennant and their families would always loose in reguard to the safety of structure in which they live in . . .

Hear, hear.

Some communities have rental inspections and do make inspections. However most of the inspectors are not licensed trade inspectors. At least in my area. They have check list that they follow looking for basic items. Gfcis , smoke alarms etc.

May miss a lot, but better than nothing.

 

[rcarroll]

My town has had some type of renters rights ordinance for quite some time. We recently adopted the International Property Maintenance Code, with amendments. I did rental inspections for about 2 years. Saw some real ugly stuff as well as slobs looking for a free ride. Good luck.
Ron

 

[petersonra]

people who don't have a lot of money need a place to live too. if you force too many requirements on landlords the rent will have to be increased to pay for it, likely making it difficult for even more people to get affordable housing.

I don't want to live in a dump either, but the fact is that it is better than living on the streets because the government "helped" me so much that i can't afford to rent someplace to live.

 

[Mule]

people who don't have a lot of money need a place to live too. if you force too many requirements on landlords the rent will have to be increased to pay for it, likely making it difficult for even more people to get affordable housing.

I don't want to live in a dump either, but the fact is that it is better than living on the streets because the government "helped" me so much that i can't afford to rent someplace to live.

Cant disagree with that at all, but I've seen landlords that live modestly,and take care of their property, and I've seen landlords that are multi millionaires and their property shows their true intent. These type people IMO care way more about their port folio than they do about the wellness of others.

 

[cowboyjwc]

Not loosing sleep at all, and not trying to save the world, but I do believe we need better inspections on old structures. So while we put so much efforts into AFCI's why shouldnt codes be more focused on structures that clearly are much much more dangerous.....

Most people don't want us coming out on a new structure, could you imagin what the outcry would be if we just showed up at your house and required you to pay a fee so that we could tell you that you had to pay someone to repair a bunch of work that was done by someone else?

Someone on here posted that there is some city that requires all house over 40(?) years old to be recertified.

 

[Mule]

Most people don't want us coming out on a new structure, could you imagin what the outcry would be if we just showed up at your house and required you to pay a fee so that we could tell you that you had to pay someone to repair a bunch of work that was done by someone else?

Someone on here posted that there is some city that requires all house over 40(?) years old to be recertified.

Did you mean Old structure instead of new structure?

Yes, I spent five years as an electrical inspector and I know exactly what your saying. Property owners don't like inspectors, but tennants and prespective buyers do!! pretty simple equation.....

 

[cowboyjwc]

Did you mean Old structure instead of new structure?

Yes, I spent five years as an electrical inspector and I know exactly what your saying. Property owners don't like inspectors, but tennants and prespective buyers do!! pretty simple equation.....

Nope, that's what I meant.:smile: And I don't disagree that something should be done. I just had this same converstation with my boss yesterday, suggesting that we should offer a service where we would come out and do a curtosey inspection, of course then the question about liability came up.

 

[Mule]

Nope, that's what I meant.:smile: And I don't disagree that something should be done. I just had this same converstation with my boss yesterday, suggesting that we should offer a service where we would come out and do a curtosey inspection, of course then the question about liability came up.

Yep, the BO that I worked for said the same thing......

As and EC Im very cautious about documentation when I work on old structures....I even draw a small cartoon on the WO showing exactly what I did. Hopefully some day, heaven forbid, in the event of a fire it will protect me...

 

[cowboyjwc]

It's always hard when your heart and your head are in conflict. I, like you, believe that something should be done, but I understand, perfectly, where he's coming from.

 

[petersonra]

Cant disagree with that at all, but I've seen landlords that live modestly,and take care of their property, and I've seen landlords that are multi millionaires and their property shows their true intent. These type people IMO care way more about their port folio than they do about the wellness of others.

Is there anything really wrong with that? It is their property to take care of in whatever way they see fit. As long as they do not deliberately put others at risk, I just don't see it as a big issue. And not having AFCIs is not a risk IMO.

If there are definable issues that put their tenants at substantial risk, that is something that needs to be dealt with.

 

[brother]

I dont know what this has to do with 'Electrical', but I do have a good view of this issue. The problem with those 'inspections' is that there is wayyy too much abuse of power. Also it would not be dealt with fairly on these issues.

Ive helped managed some places for a company, and the way the laws are written for our area, its already more so to protect tenants. if you require this type of government interference, it would price people out of a home as someone stated.

No imagine this Being done to YOUR place, would you like that??!!

 

[cowboyjwc]

I dont know what this has to do with 'Electrical', but I do have a good view of this issue. The problem with those 'inspections' is that there is wayyy too much abuse of power. Also it would not be dealt with fairly on these issues.

Ive helped managed some places for a company, and the way the laws are written for our area, its already more so to protect tenants. if you require this type of government interference, it would price people out of a home as someone stated.

No imagine this Being done to YOUR place, would you like that??!!

Just because I work for the government, doesn't mean I agree with everything they do or don't do. Remember as a government employee, I'm not exempt from anything. That's why when someone yells and me and tell's me they pay my salary, I remind them that I do too.:grin:

 

[pfalcon]

Electrical in part only because of outdated wiring practices.

The OP started this thread about Tenant Safety. The real issue is more communal. In all likelihood, most of those trashy properties that lawyer owned were overdue to be overhauled at the time he purchased them. So if we are going to cry over the state they are in when he rents them then why did we not cry over the state they were in when he bought them. Part of the sale contract could have been assignment for liability of fixing them. So Grandma pays [$25,000 house value - $35,000 repair bill] $10,000 to sell her home. Or the government can stay out of it.

Frankly I do not know of a single municipality that does not have minimum standards for rental housing. Heat, potable water, hot water, and reasonable sanitation are norms for almost all communities. Don't forget that reasonable sanitation is usually the burden of the tenant - not the landlord.