Landlord to blame in carbon monoxide deaths?

Here in Toledo, Ohio, our community suffered a great and needless tragedy this past week when four innocent lives were lost due to carbon monoxide poisoning in their rented home.

If you read the Toledo Blade story linked above, you'll find out that the family of four had recently moved into the rental home, and that the current landlord has owned the property himself only a short time. You'll also find out that the home had no water, electric or gas utility services, and that the landlord supplied the family with a gas-powered generator only hours before that same generator running indoors emitted toxic carbon monoxide fumes so powerful that they killed the entire family as they slept.

It turns out that the utilities were turned off before this particular landlord owned the property -- the electric, when a former tenant moved out; and the gas, at the request of a tenant, possibly due to an inability to pay a $200 bill balance. I've not seen any information about the property's water service.

Is the landlord culpable in these four tragic deaths?

I'm going to say yes, he is.

Any health department inspector would've found the property to be unfit for habitation. No water, no heat. As a landlord, you ought not rent out any property that's not fit for habitation. I'm sure this guy, the current landlord, wasn't thrilled to find out that at least one utility bill needed to be paid before service could be restored to the address, but that's one of those things you suck up and deal with when you're an investment property owner.

Expect a lawsuit to be filed by surviving family members, if not formal charges levied by authorities, in this case.


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What apartment maintenance tasks are you responsible for?

Some leases -- particularly if you're renting a house or a duplex -- make certain home maintenance tasks the responsibility of the tenant rather than the landlord.

For example, duplex and single-family home renters sometimes must shovel their own sidewalks in the wintertime and mow their own lawns in the summer. Aside from that, almost every tenant must occasionally change a light bulb or replace the batteries in their smoke detectors. And, unfortunately, some tenants take on more of their fair share of rental home maintenance tasks simply because they have landlords who aren't prompt about doing it or outright refuse.

For tenants who fit the descriptions above, check out the Top 10 Best Buys for Easier Home Maintenance. If you're looking to get the most bang out of your buck when purchasing home maintenance tools or supplies, this Top 10 list is a good guide for choosing essential home maintenance products that will make tasks easier and faster and, in some cases, will save you money.



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Is it your landlord's responsibility to exterminate for ants in your apartment?

Ants! Homeowners and renters alike often encounter these common, unwelcome visitors, especially during the summertime. Whether you've noticed a stray ant or two or you're battling a full-scale sudden infestation of ants, here is some advice for ridding your apartment of these ordinary household pests -- starting with informing your landlord about the problem.

Should My Landlord Exterminate My Apartment for Ants? takes you through the steps of informing your landlord about your ant problem, battling these pests inexpensively all on your own and following up with your landlord if an ant infestation is severe enough to make your apartment "unfit and uninhabitable," at which point it would, certainly, be your landlord's responsibility to address. See the article, too, for some options you have if you have a severe ant infestation in your apartment and your landlord refuses to act.



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Beware Toledo's slumlords! They're out there.

Every city of a certain size has them: Slumlords. Toledo's no exception.

WTOL-11 earlier this month recounted the story of one East Toledo man who encountered a slumlord when he rented an apartment on Greenwood in a story here. The piece also advised apartment hunters on how to inspect an apartment before you sign a lease and move in.

It's a short read, so give it a click.



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