From Contra Costa Times-As Berkeley begins balcony inspections, records suggest safety problems are common in region

Photo by Contra Costa Times Photographer  Karl Mondon
shows two balconies falling off a building in San Francisco.
The sliding doors are not blocked to prevent access, a
dangerous condition.

An investigative report on Berkeley's new deck inspection ordinance by Matthia Gafni, David Early Sr & Thomas Peele shows that other Bay area cities with inspection requirements reveals the difficulty in forcing building owners to repair their buildings. Gafni interviewed me on my opinions and expertise on the subject. 

"A rotting deck railing at a San Francisco house suddenly snaps during a birthday party, and three people fall onto concrete below, suffering serious injuries. Posts tenuously prop up the collapsing balcony of four San Jose apartments that city inspectors may soon order vacated, fearing an imminent collapse.

In Concord, inspectors find balconies at an apartment complex badly rotted and order immediate repairs, citing danger to residents.

These details -- gathered from inspection records reviewed by the Bay Area News Group -- suggest just how common the types of problems are that doomed a Berkeley balcony and killed six young adults last month."

My personal professional opinion is landlords and property management companies have decided to not fix decks until someone dies. Read my opinions in the article here at this link. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_28538504/berkeley-begins-balcony-inspections-records-suggest-safety-problems

Deferred Maintenance on HOA Draws a $27,500 Special Assessment

A Nevada HOA has passed an Special Assessment for $27,500.00 per unit...defrred maintenance dontcha know... View the TV report on video at Channel 4's website by clicking our headine to go to TV 4's site.

Residents of a Reno housing complex are upset over being hit with $27,500 assessment bills from their Home Owner's Association with little help from the courts.

The Housing Association hit 32 property owners at the Riverside Terrace condominiums with a $27,500 a piece assessment bill even though records show a majority of the home owners voted against the assessment.

"The lady next door, she's single," Elmer Morgan said, Riverside Terrace resident. He says it's a hardship on everyone he has spoken to in the community.

Morgan says the association has refused to do basic preventative maintenance, such as roof repair, for years and that's why he says the complex is in its current bad shape.

The property assessment reports that "maintenance has either been inadequate, deferred or both."

After years of seeming neglect, now the association wants to perform a million dollar upgrade at the residents' expense.