As long as an attic has a door entrance, which leads upstairs to the attic, and the attic itself has 2 windows, isn't it okay to rent it out?

First of all, is this your home? You would need to check your local Building and Zoning Department to see if this is legal in your area to do. Otherwise you may just make a lot of fancy improvements to the attic and get a swell fine for renting it out if it is not legal to do.

Actually, it's not my home. Anyway, I called buildings last week and I was told that there needs to be 2 exits. I should have asked before hanging up because I wasn't sure if windows would be considered an exit. Not that I personally would want to have to jump out of a window or see/hear that kids had to. It's confusing because most bedrooms in a house only have 1 door and then of course window(s). I'll know for certain by the end of the week. I think I may have caused a problem for someone but at the same time, may be saving lives of small children that are in that attic I am questioning. Thank you very much for replying. I appreciate it and I agree that there could possibly be fines unless the bldg. dept. gives them a break and/or the person has a lawyer to tell them what to do to get out of it. Thank you again! (Love Raccoons too).

Hi, trmpldonagn!

Around where I live, there would need to be a separate door which leads to the outdoors with a separate stairway leading all the way to the ground.

The stairway would also need to have a railing, and enough vertical supports underneath the railing so that a small child wouldn't be able to slip through.

There would also need to be at least two, walk-in doorways; one inside the home to the attic and one that would be on an outside wall of the home.

I'm glad that you called the proper building department.

Thanks!

Hi there Clough,
You are quite welcome. I believe I did the right thing too. Just curious if you know why those rules don't apply to bedrooms. As far as that attic, I will know by the end of this week what the outcome is and will post it as soon as I know. Till then I'll pray that there isn't ANOTHER fire. It was a small fire from what I understand and the fire dept. was not called. It scared the bejesus out of me even before I heard there was a fire because I knew it was possibly a hazard to have 5 small children up there. One is enough too but 5?
Thank you very much for your info. And reply! Apprectiate it very much.

Hi again, trmpldonagn!

There are many rules, regulations and laws that apply to rental properties that don't apply to single-family dwellings as compared to houses that are being rented out in some way.

Around where I live, that same exterior exit and stairway are required if the second story of a home is being rented out.

Thanks!

You are quite welcome. I believe I did the right thing too. Hello tr:

Well I don't think you did the right thing. I think you're a snitch and a busybody. I don't think this room has ANYTHING to do with you. You just want to stir up trouble... You're RETALIATING against them for something, aren't you? Come on, you can tell us.

It's true, the children won't have two doors to go outside... But, they won't need them, because they'll be ON THE STREET. That's a much better place to be. True?

excon

I would like to follow up on excon, who are you, if you are not the owner of the property or the renter what exactly is your relationship to these people.

And to be honest there are various levels of rentals, including rooming houses which only rent rooms ( with only one exit)

Often the exit rule is first often grandfathered depending on how long the place has been a rental,

Even the relationship to the people renting.

And a attic when converted is merely another story in a home.

But excon is correct, there are 1000's of rentals all over Atlanta ( where I am at) that are far below code, and what happens when they get cited, the people get thrown out to the street since often people who rent those know but can not afford better.

People can rent a room in a house. That doesn't have to meet the same regulations as renting an apartment.

People can rent a room in a house. That doesn't have to meet the same regulations as renting an apartment.



Right, same in my area. Is this a room? An apartment with a kitchen and a bathroom? And in my area anything on the third floor has to have an outside stairway or fire ladder, including a room.

The Fire Marshall and building/zoning will know.

And, yes, why are you involved in this?

Hello all. I am involved in this because I reported the situation. It was not to have anyone thrown out on the street. There is another area in the house where the children can go. Also, who I spoke with ASSURED me that if this was not the case and worse came to worst, they would definitely step in and "find a place" for the mother and the children. This was someone at Social Services. I kept making certain that they would not be put out on the street before I gave ANY information to them. That is the truth. I just pray nothing happens beforehand such as another fire but bigger.

It's an attic with one door, from the 3rd floor which has a stairway leading up to the attic. There are 2 windows on either side of the attic. There is not a fire escape. JudyK, There is not a kitchen or bathroom so no, it's not an apartment, just considered a room rental or private rental. It's a single family house.

I'm definitely not being a busybody but a couple of neighbors are. If you see me that way, that is okay. I see things like this on our local news all of the time whether it's with the Buildings Dept. or the Health Dept. I also see it in the paper a lot so maybe you have your point as far as there being busybodies out there or people retaliating for whatever reason(s). To me, that doesn't sound reasonable especially when there are children involved. I have no relation to the woman and her children. I did feel that I did the right thing though. Only problem with that is, and I believe I asked this about taxes, people do get away with a lot while other people are doing the right thing. That's where I do get somewhat confused. Do we do what's right and follow the laws? Or do we break the law(s) since so many other people are and they get away with it? I understand why many would disagree. I understand why many would agree. Sometimes people feel they are between a rock and a hard place. Some feel bitter that other people are getting away with things so they sometimes do the same. Others won't do the same even if they know they can get away with the same. Others may disagree with what others are getting away with. And so on and so on. I try to see all angles or both sides if you will in just about every situation But I am only human and imperfect like the rest of us.
Go head now excon, fire awaaaaaaay... I respect everyone and you're all entitled to your opinions.
Excon, I am sorry if you were ever reported or wronged in any way. If I hit a nerve in some way, I am sorry. I hope that I did not because I certainly did not intend to.

I'm still learning on this site. I honestly did not know that I have to include my relations to people, if any, when asking a question. I will try to be more accurate and give as much information as possible in the future. Thanks for your patience.

While I'm not as against snitches as excon, I think there has to be some weighing of the facts before doing so.

In your case, you have someone renting a room, possibly illegally. So what harm is there in that? Yes the extra kids may be using local facilities without paying. And maybe the homeowner is not paying his fair share. But more likely, the homeowner is just trying to pay his bills.

So in this case, the harm being caused is minor and I'm not comfortable that blowing the whistle here was the right thing to do.

Hi ScottGem, Thank you for your reply. I know now that I am even going away from my own original question. Some answers are not answering the question. They are questions about the relationship and so forth. I do respect opinions though whether we agree or disagree with why I did or didn't do something.
If you don't mind my asking, when is it not so minor or what is a good example of something being major enough to be acceptable to report? Please know SG that I am not being sarcastic here. Sometimes things can get lost in translation through posts/writing. It just sounds to me as though you may feel that there is a right time to report something. Thanks again for your reply and have a great day!

Hi ScottGem, Thank you for your reply. I know now that I am even going away from my own original question. Some answers are not answering the question. They are questions about the relationship and so forth. I do respect opinions though whether we agree or disagree with why I did or didn't do something.
If you don't mind my asking, when is it not so minor or what is a good example of something being major enough to be acceptable to report?? Please know SG that I am not being sarcastic here. Sometimes things can get lost in translation through posts/writing. It just sounds to me as though you may feel that there is a right time to report something. Thanks again for your reply and have a great day!



I think this has gone away from legal issues and into moral issues. Maybe this is a good topic for one of the discussion boards - moral vs ethical vs legal.

It just sounds to me as though you may feel that there is a right time to report something. Hello again, tr:

I thought I might offer my 2 cents once again...

I'm not against snitching. I'm against retaliation. MOST snitches snitch for reasons OTHER than altruism.

Now, it IS true, that my first instinct is to think LESS than positive things about people who involve themselves in these situations, unless the relationship is clearly spelled out from the git go. Call me a cynic. I'll live.

Indeed, I'm a SUPPORTER of whistle blowers (snitches) if they are reporting a situation wherein a person, or a population are in danger, and nothing can be done short of their involvement.

IF there are people or better yet CHILDREN, who are put in danger by anyone, I'm the first to interject... However, if I'm going to interject myself, then I'm going to INTERJECT myself. My FIRST instinct is NOT to call the authorities, but rather to attempt to mitigate MYSELF.

Plus, there is just something inherently wrong about anonymous tattletaling.

As a cynic, I don't believe that bureaucrats OR police SOLVE problems at ALL. In fact, they COMPLICATE them. So, I am loathe to involve the authorities in ANYTHING.

Now, if somebody robbed me, I'd call the cops.

excon

Hiya Convict. Hope you are well today. Whether it was your intention, some of what you wrote made me laugh, in a good way and certainly not at you.

What if someone robbed you but they really were desperate and really really needed the money? As you say this Landlord may just need the money. Why call the police? I just don't know if the cops would really SOLVE your problem, as you say, or situation if you called them. By the way, I did not call the police just in case. Not sure if you thought that and don't think it matters. I wouldn't really know why they'd be involved in this. I would call the cops if I saw my neighbor beating his wife and kids again. Not sure if he's aloud back over there but beat me if you wish on this convict. I would call the cops in that case. I don't think they'd complicate things. Again, you are entitled to your opinion. I appreciate your reply. REALLY, I mean that. But I just wonder if this should all be posted elsewhere maybe. Such that JudyKay says...

I was hesitant about giving my name. Without a doubt. I was the one who didn't want to suffer from retaliation but in the end, I did give my name. I don't blame people for wanting to remain anonymous.

Were you ever really in jail? I know some people that are or were in that environment feel very strongly against snitches or tattletailing. Hope I'm wrong and I don't see you ANY different if you were in jail or prison before. I don't judge. I don't know you. Be well!

There is also the zoning laws to consider in this type of situation. If there is one adult and 5 kids up in that attic then possibly the homeowner has severely overreached the limit of people in the occupancy of this attic. They need to get different housing to properly house all 5 kids. There are quite a lot of house fires in the winter and I'm sure that the attic is not properly heated so the potential of a housefire is very, very real in a situation like that. Not having any outside staircase is illegal. Yes, I know that the homeowner may want to help out, etc, etc, but in reality he's the one who is breaking the law having the mother and the 5 kids live illegally in the attic - even if it is only to sleep. That is worse than atrocious living accommodations for 5 kids.

I don't condem you for calling up and inquiring. You may want to follow up with the zoning dept and see just how many people would be allowed to live in that attic - probably not as many as are living there now.

If social services can find alternate housing for this family, they should do this immediately. It may just be the difference in surviving a house fire and perishing. I was in a house fire and I was on the ground floor. Almost didn't make it and suffered severe smoke inhalation damage so you can imagine how I personally feel about this subject. Unless you have been there you have absolutely no idea. I still suffer some 30+ years now from the smoke damage done to my lungs. Keep that in mind when you contact the zoning dept as you just may save those children's lives in the end.

Aw, the Raccoon lady. And what a reply I just wrote to someone about animals. I'm sorry I went off the subject.

I did call the Zoning Dept. as well. Ut-oh. (I'm afraid and not going to open my mail for a couple of days.) They/Zoning Dept. said that someone did not let them in. The inspector also felt that it was a life threatening situation so he was going to court to get a warrant so he can get inside. They advised me to call the health dept as well. I'm not sure why they just didn't do that themselves. The main problem I think I may have caused is that (from what I hear so far), this may be an illegal boarding house. There cannot be any more than 3 non related people or else it is considered a boarding house and they need a permit. They cannot collect rent for room or apartment rentals. This is where Social Services comes in. Although Social Services will help the mother and children, they will not pay that particular landlord any more rent. I believe they will stop paying the landlord's heat as well. As I write, I do sound and seem like a busybody because I did do some research and I do know of the situation at this house, however, I have no relation to them. I do know that the landlady makes very very good money and owns another house elsewhere (paid for.) I know it's not for me to judge but I don't think she should be concerned so much trying to make more money when she has plenty to cover her one mortgage she has left plus her utilities. I'm not saying if she was broke that she would then have this right. I'm just one of those that thinks it's wrong to get away with things like that but I'm slowly changing. I am seriously beginning to think that maybe, as I've mentioned before in another post, I should just do the same thing and break the law(s).
Twinkie, in this case, I still lean more towards... I did the right thing. I would be devastated if anything happened to those kids or even the 3 animals for that matter. Thank you very much for your input. I know I'm going to still get beat up later by someone here but that's OK. I'll love him/her anyway.
(P.S.) I will try to refrain from posting anymore on this particular subject/post and I will just read the replies. I say this because I don't mean to write such lengthy posts/replies. My apologies.

And please understand you can not trust or believe the people when they tell you "they will find them somewhere" For example in Atlanta there is a 2 year waiting list to be put on section 8 housing. And while there may be other places in the home, if this was just the home owners kids making a bedroom in the attic that I perfectly legal, not requirement for a separate entrace or anything,

Only when it is a rental. This is obviously a illegal rental and what will happen the person with kids will be given the address of social services, and some homeless shelters that allow kids after they are barred from returning. This is real life, I worked the streets for years in my ministry

FR_Chuck, Oh nooooo. This is what I was afraid of. I will just ask you first next time or come here to the site FIRST. They are not family but I know they had a place down south somewhere where they "supposedly" were living comfortably. No shelter I hope! I'm pretty sure there is another area(s) in this large house for them. Rock and a hard place. I don't feel well now. I will let you know how it all worked out. It's taking time.

There is also the zoning laws to consider in this type of situation. If there is one adult and 5 kids up in that attic then quite possibly the homeowner has severely overreached the limit of people in the occupancy of this attic. They need to get different housing to properly house all 5 kids. There are quite a lot of house fires in the winter and I'm sure that the attic is not properly heated so the potential of a housefire is very, very real in a situation like that. Not having any outside staircase is illegal. Yes, I know that the homeowner may want to help out, etc, etc, but in reality he's the one who is breaking the law having the mother and the 5 kids live illegally in the attic - even if it is only to sleep. That is worse than atrocious living accommodations for 5 kids.

I don't condem you for calling up and inquiring. You may want to follow up with the zoning dept and see just how many people would be allowed to live in that attic - probably not as many as are living there now.

If social services can find alternate housing for this family, they should do this immediately. It may just be the difference in surviving a house fire and perishing. I was in a house fire and I was on the ground floor. Almost didn't make it and suffered severe smoke inhalation damage so you can imagine how I personally feel about this subject. Unless you have been there you have absolutely no idea. I still suffer some 30+ years now from the smoke damage done to my lungs. Keep that in mind when you contact the zoning dept as you just may save those children's lives in the end.

Twinkie, I was too caught up earlier to properly reply. I am sorry that this happened to you and it is a shame that you still suffer ill effects from that fire. I am very happy that you made it out though. Best to you and I hope you are feeling well. I imagine what meds you are on and possibly an oxygen tank of some sort. I sure hope not but I'm glad you did survive.

Geeeees! I am sorry about the ENTIRE "Quote". I thought I only hi-lighted and quoted from the point where you wrote, "I was in a house fire... etc." Sorry about the length of this.

There are discussion areas on this site. Down near the bottom of the Forum list. If you want to start a discussion there, let me know the link to it and I will move the last part of these posts into it.

Why can't I predict lotto numbers? Scott Gem, I took a nap earlier and crazy as this sounds, I don't know why... I dreamt that you replied to me and I told you that you were a GEM. Crazy.

Thank you very much for your info. About the discussion boards. I need to read and learn more about the site obviously.
I will take advantage of that on another day when I'm strong enough to get beat up. But it does sound like it would be a very interesting discussion. Thank you very much again and I will let you know. (somehow?) Through a private email?? Is that OK? Or no

In reply to your question to me if I take any meds or am I on oxygen, the answer is NO. No meds and no oxygen. I just do without. I do get very bad chest colds now and then and wheeze like crazy when coughing but I don't get too many of them to warrant seeing a doctor. I'm an anti-doctor person and don't go unless I'm 99% dead and then I have to be dragged kicking and screaming.

When I read the circumstances of the children and mom in that attic I was worse than upset as I know they would not survive any sort of fire being that high up in the building as the smoke would go straight up and not down. You did not mention just how many people were in this attic originally and I was horrified to know the number!

I am sorry about the fact that this little family could be literally homeless, but I don't know which is worse, to be homeless or dead. I've been homeless myself for a little over a year approx 10 years ago and know first hand it is not easy but it is survivable. Don't know about dead yet, but when that happens I'll be sure to come back here and tell you all about it (somehow).

I figured that the Zoning Department would be on the job in a heartbeat about this. They usually are in a situation like this. They will be back with a warrant probably Monday morning with bells on.

The landlord does not care about the safety of anyone but about the smell of her money. I hope they "shut" her down and give her a swell fine as well. That's just my opinion on this matter.

I am also looking forward to taking this discussion to a different place anytime you feel like moving this Scott. Lots to talk about.

P.S. I have a band of Raccoons I feed year round - about 12 in all. I currently have 3 fur balls curled up under my raised shed sleeping blissfully. There is about a foot of snow on the ground here in Ohio and the tracks in the snow led under the shed but no tracks away. Took a peek this morning as I was curious if they were indeed there. Yep.

Is this the same situation, are these the same people involved in your IRS concern? https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/taxes/do-you-have-claim-room-apartment-rentals-299431.html

Thread off course, closed