Three kids die in makeshift heater explosion after landlord shuts off heat during pol

[hazlnut]

Three kids die in makeshift heater explosion after landlord shuts off heat during polar vortex

Three young children died in a fire as a result of a landlord shutting off the electric and gas service to a house in Hammond, Indiana.

Last week, Andre Young and his family were struggling to keep warm during what meteorologists called “the polar vortex.” According to a neighbor, conditions in the Young house had been “dire” for months, but as the temperature dropped, the family had no choice but to resort to extreme measures.

According to authorities, the fire was caused by a space heater connected to a propane tank.

City records indicate that Real Estate Equity Solutions of Indiana, LLC had turned off electric and gas service to the property months ago, and had been fined $2,600 for doing so. The company was also being investigated for refusing to allow inspectors on to the property.

“We were a week away from getting an order from the court so we could go in,” City Attorney Kristina Kantar told The Chicago Tribune. “Obviously, if our inspectors found people living there without water or power or heat, we would not let them stay there.”





So sad.

 

[Mr. H.]

That's a gut-wrencher.

 

[hazlnut]

They were only fined $2600.00.

 

[Ernie S.]

Why was the city still a week away from getting a court order to enter the property? The power had been off for months, according to the article. Why didn't the father ask the city for emergency help? A shelter? What was he thinking, using a propane space heater inside?

This is not in any way a defense of the property managers, but it seems there is a lot of blame to spread around here.

 

[Ernie S.]

Another article I read says the utilities were cut off to only one of the 2 apartments for non-payment.

Most cities and many churches will help you out if you only ask and prove a need.

 

[National Socialist]

Capitalism for you. landlord more interested in profits than poor kids and their families...fucking assholes. They should be charged with murder.

 

[Mr. H.]

And you know, tragic as this is there are common sense practices when it comes to operating space heaters and the like. There was a couple in a nearby town who died a couple years back heating their home with a charcoal grill.

 

[Mr. H.]

Capitalism for you. landlord more interested in profits than poor kids and their families...fucking assholes. They should be charged with murder.

With a name like Real Estate Equity Solutions of Indiana, LLC do you really think they are slimy capitalist slumlords, or property managers with thousands of units and hundreds of delinquent accounts?

Capitalism is what has allowed you to continually post your bullshit on a device that relays your thoughts through cyberspace and land it in front of my face.

You're a trite and boorish little Socialist. At best.

 

[Ernie S.]

Capitalism for you. landlord more interested in profits than poor kids and their families...fucking assholes. They should be charged with murder.

His tenants agreed to pay utilities. They didn't. If you stopped paying your obligations, would you expect the landlord to let you stay on out of the goodness of his heart?

Oh wait! You don't pay your rent and proudly stated that, didn't you?

Never mind.

 

[tinydancer]

Holy toledo. You just don't do that. Oh my.

 

[tinydancer]

Capitalism for you. landlord more interested in profits than poor kids and their families...fucking assholes. They should be charged with murder.

Has nothing to do with capitalism.

Lets try evil mother fucking idiotic prick.

Prickism.

 

[tinydancer]

Capitalism for you. landlord more interested in profits than poor kids and their families...fucking assholes. They should be charged with murder.

His tenants agreed to pay utilities. They didn't. If you stopped paying your obligations, would you expect the landlord to let you stay on out of the goodness of his heart?

Oh wait! You don't pay your rent and proudly stated that, didn't you?

Never mind.

I honestly thought you were not allowed to cut off heat. No matter what.

 

[jon_berzerk]

Capitalism for you. landlord more interested in profits than poor kids and their families...fucking assholes. They should be charged with murder.

His tenants agreed to pay utilities. They didn't. If you stopped paying your obligations, would you expect the landlord to let you stay on out of the goodness of his heart?

Oh wait! You don't pay your rent and proudly stated that, didn't you?

Never mind.

I honestly thought you were not allowed to cut off heat. No matter what.

some states you cant out here it can be cut off

 

[tinydancer]

His tenants agreed to pay utilities. They didn't. If you stopped paying your obligations, would you expect the landlord to let you stay on out of the goodness of his heart?

Oh wait! You don't pay your rent and proudly stated that, didn't you?

Never mind.

I honestly thought you were not allowed to cut off heat. No matter what.

some states you cant out here it can be cut off

Whoa for true?

Now I am not excusing anyone here but geeze louise you can't cut off a heat source. I've just been in minus 50 for a month.

 

[tinydancer]

Oh this is so wrong.

 

[jon_berzerk]

Another article I read says the utilities were cut off to only one of the 2 apartments for non-payment.

Most cities and many churches will help you out if you only ask and prove a need.

from the article it said the utilities had been cut off in the spring

 

[Tresha91203]

So tragic. I wish the articles were more clear. I know electric companies will not shut off power during severe weather, but dont know if they were informed or required to install new service. It appears there was already a court date set from events in may? Or was that an emergency hearing? The article makes it seem the LL cut off power, but not sure what that means ... flipped the breaker? Would the electric company bear any responsibility? Was there an eviction in progress? As a landlord, I require my tenant to keep electric on and dont have the ability to shut off their power. When I was in WA, LLs are required to maintain electric if the tenant does not, so disconnect notices go to both the LL and the tenant.

Either way, from info given, the LL (or at least their property mgmt co) was well aware that tenants were there without power during severe weather, are uncooperative with authorities, and have at least 2 subpar (slum, I am assuming) units. Time to set the bar IMO on this LL.

 

[jon_berzerk]

I honestly thought you were not allowed to cut off heat. No matter what.

some states you cant out here it can be cut off

Whoa for true?

Now I am not excusing anyone here but geeze louise you can't cut off a heat source. I've just been in minus 50 for a month.

out here = South Dakota

it is up the the Utility company

most have a policy that they would rather not cut off service

and try to make arraignment

also they will not cut off folks with certain medical conditions

 

[tinydancer]

Capitalism for you. landlord more interested in profits than poor kids and their families...fucking assholes. They should be charged with murder.

His tenants agreed to pay utilities. They didn't. If you stopped paying your obligations, would you expect the landlord to let you stay on out of the goodness of his heart?

Oh wait! You don't pay your rent and proudly stated that, didn't you?

Never mind.

Here's the hard heart on this though. You face cold like well apparently the surface temps on Mars are warmer than when I live. Now that is a sad statement and why I have to look at going south again.

You can't let people freeze. You can get them later. Right?

 

[Tresha91203]

His tenants agreed to pay utilities. They didn't. If you stopped paying your obligations, would you expect the landlord to let you stay on out of the goodness of his heart?

Oh wait! You don't pay your rent and proudly stated that, didn't you?

Never mind.

I honestly thought you were not allowed to cut off heat. No matter what.

some states you cant out here it can be cut off

Well, it was cut off in May according to the article, so not during severe weather. I cant tell if the electric co knew anyone was living there or not. The LL knew, though.