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Post by Meme on Mar 9, 2009 22:38:10 GMT -5
I wrote this on another thread here so some of you will have already read this- it really pained me to write as I hate ever having to tell it like it is........and it also made me think about my attitude towards my stuff-
I never like to think that I could hurt anyone be it my squalor or my words- and please understand that I shared only because I feel it is something we could all benefit from
please excuse spelliing and lack of commas-
hugs and love from Meme
***************************this is in regards to hoarding etc and all landlords have insurance laws and bylaws re town or city to enforce - it is not always just them being mean or annoying-****************
ok- this is what we would look for- we is not me- it is a friend and hubby who are landlords for apartments
1. weight- yes- it there are piles of stuff that could cause joint damage if it is beyond the normal house hold items-also too much stuff even if it is neat - can be classified as unsafe for fire
2 piles of things that could be fire hazards-or could cause problems with putting a fire out in a timely fashion- whether it be your place where the fires started or next door
3 easy access to water shutoffs in case they need to be shut off in and emergency
and or gas valve shut offs
4 electrical out lets-- nothing piled in front of them-- they must be open for access
and also cords - are they safe
5- garbage or plants or food that can cause a bug problem
6. safe entry in case of fire
7' wide enough path ways
8- smoking- is the area safe where you or some one smokes-ss re piles of books papers etc. that could cause a fire to go unnoticed too long
9. area around stove and other appliances such as tv - are they safe or is there stuff too close-
10. cleaners in a safe area re fire
11. the dwelling must allow safe entry for firemen- gasmen and watermen- anyone who has to enter the area in or due to enmergency-
12. all rodents and or bugs of any kind must be controlled - such an attempt to remove them or noticy landlord
13- path ways should be about 3 feet wide or at least 30 inches for emergency to get through - about the same as doorways is a better way to say this
14- piles that are too high and could fall - so about 5 feet is sort a limit-
a lot these things are required by the insurance company who ever that would be- if one place is allowed to be in disaray and fire is caused the insurance can be invalid- also the person who allowed the apartment or house to become dangerous can be held or charged with manslaugher if there is death due to them not keeping home is safe keeping
they mainly look for paper piles - book piles- clothes piles and garbage piles- books are not considered as much unless they are not neat and tidy-or if they appear dirty
dust or grease is another source of fires
--I know this sounds very harsh and we think - that we are paying rent or etc. we should be able to live as we want to but when you realize that you could putting some one else's life in danger- it does make more sense- sigh-
we lost a fireman due to some one who did not have a safe house and he went in to rescue and lost his own life-
this is one of the first times I realize that hoarding and squalor really goes beyond being my life or my problem-
it does effect us all in a hidden way-
a safe distance is considered 6 inches to 3 feet- it all depends what one is considering-
I am sorry for the stress and pray that all goes well- there are other things but this is enough as it is-
yes- my friends did evict some one due to hoarding and squalor
they gave them many months notice and also offered free help to clean and store extra stuff for them- even offering a spare storage unit that someone else was not using-
sadly the tenants did leave finally due to a order of the court and left a lot of damage - it cost nearly $3000 to clean and repair for new tenants-
sometimes we live in a smell and we do not notice the smell but other folks can-
this is just an overview of my friend's job- I did not tell why I needed to know- more or less let her know I was interested and knew some of this just from what she has talked about in the past- her job is not easy either and she takes no pleasure in having to tell anyone these things- her by law they are required to inspect the apartments they care for twice a year- due to fire safey and insurance-
I hated to write this but do want you to know and have a chance to make sure things are right- it is with love that I have found this out for you and all of us- I know that you would never want to hurt anyone and sometimes we need to know things so we are safe and others-
hugs Meme who has to go as this post makes me sad to say
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Post by moggyfan on Mar 9, 2009 22:56:44 GMT -5
Thanks for this, meme. I live in a super-densely-populated urban area, and one of the motivating factors in my desqulaoring was fear of fire/emergency access issues.
Fires here can spread from one unit/building to another justlikethat, not to mention most houses are wood structures.
Sometimes "telling it like it is" is what we all need to hear.
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 9, 2009 23:20:28 GMT -5
Thanks, meme, for posting this. I live in the middle of nowhere, but it is still good information for me. If I kept my house by these codes, it might make the difference in whether I was able to escape from my house in a fire, or not.  |
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Post by AnnieOkie on Mar 10, 2009 8:54:24 GMT -5
I think your post is necessary for some of us to hear. I cringe when I think how long I let my house go and how much of a fire hazard it was.....a couple of areas still are.  But I'm working on it and hope to have a completely safe home soon. Thanks Meme! |
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Post by messyLlundain on Mar 10, 2009 9:37:05 GMT -5
I'm glad that you posted this, Meme. I've often thought about the issues that you raised, particularly the fire safety aspect. Sometimes you know something, but it doesn't quite hit home. Reading your post...it hit home!  |
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Post by gottaproblem on Mar 10, 2009 12:18:07 GMT -5
Thank you for the post.
Fire and rescue people couldn't get to us in a timely matter and it could be a life or death situation.
Thanks for the reminder.
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Post by fluffernut - now Jannie on Mar 10, 2009 17:07:55 GMT -5
My mother's house is very cluttered. My divorced brother lives with her . My brother fell in his bedroom and couldn't move. Mom called an ambulance. When they came, they saw the junk in the stairway and hall. They told her they couldn't get to my brother's room. They were kind and moved some things out of the way. They were able to transport him. But it made me think, if I called for an emergency is there good access throughout my home?
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Post by threeg on Mar 12, 2009 8:25:39 GMT -5
Thanks Meme. The rules governing fire hazards are very, very, important to follow. It is our lives at stake. I remember (on SS) when Illuminata's house caught fire. She said that if it was as squalorous as it was before that, they all might have died as a result. It was an awful experiance, and it haunted her forever. Now that my DSO is so seriously ill, we may have to call an ambulance at some point. That's why my friend and my niece are helping me to make more room in the bedroom and dining room. DSO says he'd wait in the hallway  , but if he needs an ambulance he will not be able to do that. That strengthend my resolve. The dining room and bedroom WILL be conquored, and SOON! 3g |
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Post by ohblondie on Mar 12, 2009 20:10:38 GMT -5
Thank you for posting this. I am a landlord and I never was one to insist my tenants keep a martha stewart house...  , I can't, so why should I expect them do. My tenant's son recently passed. He had a heart attack during the night. (He was 35) The father and brother had to carry his body out of the back bedroom and down the hall to the living room because there was no room in his room to do CPR. My heart broke for this family. THey are messy and cluttery- but they are such good people. I came home and looked around and wondered if I ever had to call an ambulance- could a stretcher get through my hallway? Answer is no. Have I addressed this in my house? The answer is no. There have been nights I have looked around and realized if my house ever caught fire- it would burn to the ground quickly because of all the stuff. What is it going to take for me to get going on this? I try to do 3-4 bags or boxes every week- but at that rate I will be doing this forever. Ughhh, something is better than nothing! THANK YOU FOR POSTING THESE MEME>>>>>>YOU EXPLAINED IT SO WELL AND IN SUCH A NON JUDGEMENTAL NON THREATENING WAY!! |
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Post by Fivecat on Mar 13, 2009 2:45:47 GMT -5
Wow! One of the most profound and important post i've ever read on any of our forums! Awesome meme! Totally Awesome! Thanks so much for posting it. Fivecat
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Post by dayeanu on Mar 13, 2009 17:57:20 GMT -5
I broke my leg in 2007, both bones completely in two. I could not even use crutches; had to use a walker. I had to go stay with my mother for four months (and some of you know how wonderful that probably was), because I could not get through my house with a walker. Not even sideways. |
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Post by 60isolderthanithot on Mar 14, 2009 17:40:59 GMT -5
Dayeanu - so one of the prices we pay for clutter is loss of independence and autonomy. It's a lesson we need to keep in mind as motivation to get rid of it.
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Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Jul 12, 2010 4:25:09 GMT -5
- This is an old thread.I am bumping this thread up to the forefront, as the information is timeless.
The original author of this thread,
("Meme papaswife")
is correct.
Many of the concerns she listed are what landlords are looking for.Meme is blessing us with this information. She originally posted the information in reply to someone's inspection crisis -- The advice comes via a friend of Meme's who is a landlady.
Meme has graciously reposted it here for all of us ...
EDIT to UPDATE:
our member Meme(papsaswife) has passed away in late 2011.
But her spirit lives on in these forums.
We thank her for her grace, love, compassion, and TRUTH!
Thank you, Meme!NOTE: regarding the REPLIES to this thread ...
Threeg's DSO (dear significant other) passed away in Spring 2009.
Threeg herself passed away in June 2010. - |
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Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Jul 12, 2010 4:35:07 GMT -5
I think that everything on this list is accurate.
There may be more or less requirements depending on where you live.
Landlords/Landladies have to follow their local building codes, per city and state law. They also have to follow the rules of their homeowners insurance.
There is only one key point in Meme's list that might need to be questioned.
#14. "piles that are too high and could fall - so about 5 feet is sort a limit"
Perhaps that is true in the region of Canada where Meme lives,
but ...
In the USA cities that I've lived in, the limit for heights of piles is sometimes lower.
I used to work in a business that stored boxes of customer files in a file room. With BOXES stacked (and not on racks) ... we were limited to three or four boxes high ... I forget the exact number. It was more like 3 or 4 feet high. .... We originally had higher piles of boxes, but when the insurance and/or fire inspector came, they made us redo everything, in order to pass regulations.
You could contact your local building code officer and/or fire code officer, to find out what your local rules are.
If a business wants to allow more cramped/higher storage than the fire code allows, the business has to fill out special paperwork to apply for an exemption.
Some building codes and/or fire codes require that special sprinkler systems be installed if the contents of the room are piled high.
The landlord can't get insurance if the building isn't in compliance.
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Post by Rory on Jul 12, 2010 15:15:30 GMT -5
Nearly twenty years ago my flat was destroyed by fire. The accummulated stuff was a problem for the firemen and was part of the reason that the fire spread. I was very fortunate that the insurance company paid up. Thinking back that was the start of my decluttering.
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