Editor's note: This article is one of a series written based on public information requested from the City of Bellingham Planning and Development Department for data covering Bellingham rental inspections between June 13, 2016, when the city began the inspections, and Feb. 9. The data includes inspections in the York and Sehome neighborhoods and in part of Happy Valley. Other neighborhoods have yet to be inspected. The data is not inclusive of all inspections as many landlords opt to use private inspectors who are not required to file detailed reports with the city. Links to additional stories can be found at the end of each article.
The five most common causes of failure found during the first eight months of rental inspections in Bellingham were easily-fixed problems. Causes included smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, exposed electrical wiring, plumbing seals and windows that don’t meet standards for egress, meaning a tenant couldn’t climb out of them in case of emergency. Missing or nonfunctional smoke and carbon monoxide detectors were listed in approximately 47 percent of initial failures. “Smoke detectors are vital for early detection,” Bellingham Fire Marshal Ron Richard said. “They help ensure that people get up and out of a building that may be on fire.” Richard stressed the importance of carbon monoxide detectors, noting that the odorless, colorless gas is given off by incomplete combustion from furnaces, water heaters, gas stoves or similar appliances. Symptoms of poisoning first manifest as lethargy or headaches and can result in death. David Willet, a private rental inspector, said when the battery level in smoke or carbon monoxide detectors gets low, many tenants remove the batteries rather than replace them, to silence the warning chirping. He added that this can sometimes cause or contribute to an inspection failure and that it is the responsibility of the landlord to ensure alarms are in working condition. Exposed or unprotected wiring was the second most common cause of failure, appearing in approximately 21 percent of first-time failures. “Exposed wiring is never a good thing,” Willet said. “It can cause a fire.” Greg Gottier, a former property manager and current state-licensed home inspector said in his experience, most tenants do not fully examine the condition of rental units and overlook potential safety hazards. Other potential safety hazards include missing hand and guard rails, which city inspection data mentioned in 106 first-time failures. The inspection checklist dictates that handrails must be present and in good repair on any staircase more than three stairs high, and guardrails on any platform elevated 30 inches or more above grade or surrounding surfaces.
