“The only way to know whether a house is safe is to have it inspected and be proactive,” said Denver Henderson, director of the Renter Center.
Since the fire, Henderson said University of Montana students have been asking him if their own units are safe. To help answer their questions and also plug a building inspection program of the city of Missoula, the Renter Center will host a free forum Thursday. It will also offer some free inspections.
Verrue said the cause of the recent blaze appears to be electrical, although it isn't clear if an extension cord or a wall fire caused the burn. The fire didn't injure people in the house, divided into apartment units, but it killed two dogs and one cat.
“If it had happened at night ... it could have been more disastrous,” Verrue said.
Had inspectors checked the place for safety, he said they would have pointed out a couple of trouble spots. Mainly, a fire that started in the basement quickly damaged the second floor because the apartments shared a furnace.
“It just explains why it's so important that apartments don't share the same forced-air heating system,” Verrue said.
In July, the city of Missoula started a voluntary residential inspection program. For $15, a homeowner, tenant, property manager or landlord can have a building inspector check a home for safety. The inspector looks for things like visible water damage, electrical hazards, smoke detectors and window wells and egress windows, among other signs of safe and unsafe living spaces.
The program came about because too many people in Missoula have lived in dangerous homes, mostly rental units. Henderson estimated some 10,000 to 10,500 UM students rent. So far, though, just 23 people have called for inspections, Verrue said. A couple were homeowners and most were tenants.
“It's slower than we'd hoped for,” Verrue said.
That's another reason the Renter Center is holding the panel. It's offering 20 free inspections, generally on a first-come, first-served basis, and information for all.
“Predominantly, this is an opportunity for renters to ask questions to a panel of experts on how they can prevent these kinds of problems from happening and how they can resolve issues they're having with their landlord,” Henderson said.
He said the city of Missoula required inspections for a short time roughly a decade ago. It did so until a state law passed that prevents municipalities from creating licensing programs that target specific industries. The current program is voluntary, and a mandatory one is not on the table.
“In order to go that route, it would require a change by the state Legislature, which would be incredibly difficult to do,” Henderson said.
Reporter Keila Szpaller can be reached at 523-5262 or at keila.szpaller@missoulian.com.
Renter Rap
The ASUM Off-Campus Renter Center will hold a panel discussion Thursday about renter safety and the city of Missoula's residential inspection program. Director Denver Henderson, city building superintendent Don Verrue, Grizzly Property Management representatives and Tom Trigg with ASUM Legal Services will be on hand on the third floor of the University Center in the UC Theatre to answer questions from 4 to 5 p.m. Free inspections will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
To schedule an inspection with the city of Missoula or learn more about the residential safety program, call 552-6044. Inspections cost $15, but if someone wants more than one unit inspected, subsequent units in the same building cost $30 each.
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