Is storing dolls in boxes a fire hazard if we have an area with an electrical outlet?

George_1950 · May 31, 2008, 07:48 AM

Three requisites for fire: heat, fuel, and oxygen. The electrical outlet and phone jack should not be fire hazards, as long as nothing is inserted into them.

gingerrogers77 · May 31, 2008, 07:50 AM

We have an area that we can converted into a closet. Inside the area we have placed dolls in boxes. There is an electrical outlet and a phone jack that we have disarmed and is not in use. But our apartment complex is now stating this is a fire hazard. The area has no windows, exits, does not have combustible, and is well ventilated. We feel this is a personal issue with one of the Managers who is not very friendly with us. Can the complex ask us to comply? Also, we had some cable put into the apartment via a Brighthouse contractor who we believe didn't want to do the job and used this leverage in getting the office's help in doing so. The 2 times the fellow came in we got calls from the same manager. Last night, the fellow left at 8:30 P.M. And we received a letter from the same manager by 10:30 P.M. That night. The office is officially closed at 6:00 P.M. So that leaves only personal conversation open for these two people!

What are our legal rights? And what should our approach be? We are living in this place for 8 years now and are just fed-up with this nonsense? Thanks!

God Bless,

Gingerrogers77

)

gingerrogers77 · May 31, 2008, 07:54 AM

Well, we extended the phone jack to the other side of the apartment and now the phone is on the other side of the place about 100 feet away. Does that change the situation?

progunr · May 31, 2008, 07:57 AM

I have never heard of a landlord getting so involved with what you have in your closet.

I don't believe they can legally control what you have in your closet, as long as it is not a known dangerous substance, such as Gasoline, kerosene, or dynamite.

I'd tell him go pound sand, and immediately begin making plans to move since this will really irritate him, and if he is determined to make your live miserable, this will only fuel his fire.

froggy7 · May 31, 2008, 08:12 AM

I can say that if you have done alterations to the electrical work (disarming the outlet, for example) you may have shifted the current to a different branch of the circuit, and potentially overloaded it. And you are definitely altering the premises, which is generally a no-no in a rental, unless you get the landlord's permission first. So, he could make you un-convert your closet back into whatever it was intended to be.

gingerrogers77 · May 31, 2008, 08:24 AM

The area converted into a closet has all the walls and all we did was hang a curtain across the area...very easy to undo! Next, we did not make any alterations to the electrical outlet and it is operational but we are not using it and it is turned off. Maintenance and other people from the complex have seen this and have not said anything but this one manager is the one pursuing this.

George_1950 · May 31, 2008, 09:19 AM

I wouldn't think so. I believe there is a small, electrical current in a phone line, but probably not sufficient to start a fire. Are the storage boxes paper or plastic? I believe the plastic ones are safer.

gingerrogers77 · May 31, 2008, 09:47 AM

Most are paper (card board) with some items covered in plastic.

Thanks again

)

Fr_Chuck · May 31, 2008, 11:18 AM

You may want to get someone from the fire marshal to come out and give it an inspection, if they pass it, then no problem.

Is storing dolls in boxes a fire hazard if we have an area with an electrical outlet?

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