The landlord had my apartment and basement weatherized last year. He had to pay half, I believe - the program is offered by BROC, the local relief agency.

IIn the basement (about 40'x50'), they left just the polyurethane sheets of insulation, no covering. On the sheets is states clearly that this is highly flammable, dangerous material unless covered by a fire barrier. This MUST be fixed. I do not understand why the state weatherization program did not cover it, unless that's supposed to the landlord's responsibility. 

I don't feel I can approach the landlord directly on this. I looked on gov't regulations, and they said contact the local building inspector. Since I'm on section 8, I do get a yearly inspection from the Housing Authority, but I'm not due until August. The woman heading it has no tact, and probably would call the landlord and tell him I am complaining. She has gotten me into trouble with him before this way.

Any thoughts on how else I can handle this:? Ideally, someone else would call him and not let him know it's me complaiing.

Thanks.  This is the third time I am in danger here because of fire potential.

you could call the local fire marshall and have a home inspection he will contact the landlord site him and he make him fix this .  

 I would call the weatherization program first. Ask them if it was Ok that their crew left this not done. That would be a good place to start. Babs

First I would make sure those sheets are not anywhere near an open flame such as a gas water heater. Either way move the sheets off to one side of the basement. Then call your landlord and tell him what you've done. He may have forgotten and in which case your call would be a reminder. In the course of this conversation try to find out what his intentions are about those sheets. If he intends to keep some for spare parts or use in another project, he'll probably say so. Or he may call and have the crew come get the sheets.

seaturtle:

IIn the basement (about 40'x50'), they left just the polyurethane sheets of insulation, no covering. On the sheets is states clearly that this is highly flammable, dangerous material unless covered by a fire barrier. This MUST be fixed. I do not understand why the state weatherization program did not cover it, unless that's supposed to the landlord's responsibility. 

 

When we lived in Idaho, we had our basement insulated by a weatherization program.  They came & installed the pink insulation sheets between the studs, then stapled up a thick clear plastic sheet to cover the pink insulation and the studs.  That was all theyd id; they told us we needed to put up the sheetrock ASAP, & we did that everywhere but the laundry room & the narrow, walk-in pantry with shelves where I stored the bottled food. We had a wood stove in the basement, so we were pretty quick about getting the sheetrock up, but we had planned to sheetrock anyway, & since we qualified for the "weatherization" program, we let them pay for the insulation & studs for the half of the basement that wasn't done when we bought the house, so we could afford the sheetrock.

 Thanks, everyone. I cannot remove the sheets because they are nailed into the wall.

Calling the weatherization people is a good idea. The disadvantage there is that they are sure to contact the landlord and tell him I called. This will create difficulties for me with him  (tattling).

I have cme up with these alternatives:

 l. Go to the Section 8 inspector and ask her to inform the landlord that she needs to inspect the building now since it has been weatherized (I think she probably is required to do this anyway - for her to have an unsafe building in her jurisdiction would surely get her in trouble. I would make it clear that I don't want her to mention that I informed her.

2. Go to the landord directly and ask him if he knows that they did not finish the job. 

What does everyone think? (I have a smoke and fire detector in the basement already, and have now put another in the middle of the cellar stairs and at the top landing).

The weatherization people may have subcontracted this job.  Get the name of the subcontractor, because they may be liable, rather than the landlord or weatherization company, or, if the subcontractor is out of business, the landlord or weatherization company may claim that the subcontractor is liable.  

At any rate, take names and be prepared to kick you-know-what, especially if the local Bar Association has a pro-bono or low income program available. 

Any updates to this?

 Toni,

Thanks for asking. i spoke with my counsel about it, and we decided the best plan is to make an appointment with the Bennington Housing Authority. They are the section 8 people, who inspect every year.Since the weatherization, they've not been here. (I found a warning right on the insulation itself, warning "Danger, Highly Flammable, so it's obvious to anyone).

I'll explain that there's been changes in the apartment because of the weatherization. I believe that she is required to inspect, anyway, after things have changed, and certainly in this case.

I can only assume she didn't know about it - she is responsible to the state for keeping Section 8 apartment safe, and this is surely not safe.

I'll go in on Thursday. I'm sure she'll make an inspection and write the landlord.

Will post the results.