NPR did a story yesterday on how some banks have decided to demolish foreclosed properties in Cleveland and give the land to local government for its land bank […]
Building Codes / Code Enforcement / Court cases / Fire Prevention / property maintenance / rental inspections
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Illegal basement bedroom leads to tragedy
Persons who do work without a permit or allow bedrooms in basements that are in violation of the building code risk more than fines. In a tragic case […]
Code Enforcement / Fire Prevention / Foreclosure / Ordinances / Politics and building codes / property maintenance
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Banks Leave Property in Limbo
The Chicago Tribune has taken on lenders over the devastation that has befallen neighborhoods while they sit back and let property deteriorate. I’ve noticed a phenomenon in my […]
Code Enforcement / Fire Prevention / Liability / property maintenance
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Insurance company denies coverage in fire
Insurance companies can be allies in the fight for life/safety compliance. They have considerable power over property. If persons insured by the companies don’t live up to the […]
Building Codes / Code Enforcement / Court cases / Politics and building codes
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Grand jury investigates building services department
If your building department is investigated by the grand jury, you have big problems. Oakland, California’s building services department was the subject of a a grand jury report […]
Uncategorized
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Mold and foreclosures
There was a very interesting story on National Public Radio yesterday about the relationship between mold and foreclosures. One realtor interviewed said, “I have a release form that […]
Building Codes / Code Enforcement / Court cases / property maintenance
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Contempt of court
The creator of Phonehenge, a collection of oddball structures I’ve previously written about, has been sent to jail for disobeying a court order to demolish the buildings which […]
Building Codes / Court cases
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The dream house from hell
I’m sure that many building inspectors don’t give themselves enough credit for the important job that they do, making sure that structures meet the standards of the building […]
Code Enforcement / Foreclosure / property maintenance
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Vacant properties and the downward spiral
The Chicago Tribune has a very good article about how vacant properties (due to the foreclosure crisis) are decimating poor communities because of the increase in crime. This […]
Building Codes / Code Enforcement
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Carports built without permits
Building officials are constantly trying to get people to get permits for structures built without them. This becomes tricky when the construction occurred decades ago. In Austin recently […]