Your House Got Condemned by Fire Department In Connecticut: Do This

Published on June 9th, 2023

Life can be stressful and chaotic, making it a perfect environment for emergencies to crop up. Whether it's a natural disaster, a car accident, or something as simple as your sink overflowing, everything can seem like a major crisis at any given moment. If you find yourself in this situation, you'll want to stay one step ahead of the game. By keeping a few important pieces of information in mind, you can stay safe and sound while your home is a fire hazard. Preparing for a house fire is no simple task, but you can do it. Here are some things you can do if your house gets condemned by the fire department.

What Does It mean For a Home To Be Condemned In Connecticut?

Condemnation is the act of declaring a building to be unfit for occupancy or use. It is issued by an authorized government agency when it determines that the building is unsafe or unhealthy. Once a property is condemned, a notice of condemnation is issued to the property owner. And it is often posted on the front door of the building. A notice of condemnation means you must vacate your home immediately and remain off the property until it is brought up to code.

How is a House Condemned By a Fire In Connecticut?

The steps taken to condemn a property from the fire are as follows:

1. A complaint is received by the State Fire Marshal's Office or a fire department.

2. The local fire department conducts general and quarterly inspections of the property, and they look if building codes are being met in the home.

3. If the property is in fire code violation, a letter is sent to the landlord with the violations and a deadline to correct them.

4. The landlord must schedule a building inspector with the Fire Marshal's Office or local fire department when corrections have been made.

5. If violations remain uncorrected, a condemnation notice will be issued and posted on the property indicating that no one may occupy the structure until all code violations are corrected.

Under What Circumstances Can a Fire Marshal Condemn a House In Connecticut

A property can be condemned when it meets any of the following conditions:

1. The owner has failed to comply with orders from the Fire Marshal's Office or local fire department to make required corrections;

2. The building is in a state of collapse;

3. The building is unsanitary and unfit for human habitation, defective electric wiring, gas connections, heating apparatus;

4. The use of the building is hazardous to life, health, or property;

5. Such buildings constitute a separate and distinct offense by the public nuisance.

Can I Live in a Condemned House In Connecticut?

Some people choose to live in condemned houses, but it is not recommended. There could be many reasons why such a building has been condemned, from serious structural damage to health hazards like asbestos. If you choose to live in a condemned house, be sure to have it inspected by a professional to ensure it is safe.

How Do I Know If My Home Has Been Condemned In Connecticut?

A notice of condemnation will be served to you and posted on the front door of your home. This document will clearly state why your house was condemned and what needs to be done to bring it up to code and have the condemnation lifted.

It may also state how long you have before being required to vacate your home. Check with your local government building department or fire department to find out if your home has been condemned.

What To Do If Your House Gets Condemned by Fire Department In Connecticut

Here are some things you can do if your house gets condemned by the fire department.

Make Safety a Priority

The most important thing to do is make safety a priority. If you're in the house when it gets condemned, evacuate and find a safe location (like your nearest fire station) to stay for the evening. It's better to be safe than sorry, so it's best not to take any risks.

Next, contact your insurance company as soon as possible. They'll have a list of contractors you can call to help get your home back up and running again. You'll want to assess what damages need fixing and how much they will cost before deciding which contractor to hire. Some contractors may offer deals or discounts if they know they're one of your only options. It is something you don't want to give away too quickly, so try to see if any other companies can provide a quote first.

Assessing the Damage

The first thing you'll want to do is assess the damage. If the fire was small, there might not be any damage. You can take your time and put out the flames with a fire extinguisher. However, if it's a large fire, you will need to evacuate immediately.

In this case, you should make sure everyone in the home is accounted for, including any animals and pets.

Next, remove anything that could catch on fire if left unattended: clotheslines, curtains, and easily flammable items.

At this point, you should contact your insurance company or agent to file a claim and find out what their policy dictates for these types of situations. You may need to provide them with pictures of the damage before they can come up with an estimate for repairs or replacement costs.

However, keep in mind that it may not be safe to stay at your house while you wait for them to come out because there still may be active flames or smoke coming from your property. If this is the case, set up a temporary shelter elsewhere with family or friends while they assess the damages to your home to have everything they need when they arrive on site.

Make a Plan

The only way to deal with a house fire is to be prepared before it happens. So the first step is to create a plan of action and ensure you have all the necessary supplies before an emergency happens.

What would happen if your home burnt down? Where would you go? How would you care for your family members? These are all important questions that need to be answered with a plan. Please make sure everyone in the family knows the plan and has participated in making it. It will make it easier once disaster strikes. If you live alone, make sure there is someone who knows about your safety plan.

If your house gets condemned by the fire department, don't panic! We have a full guide on what household items and documents you need to reclaim.

Instead, take these steps so that when that sad day comes, you'll be ready:

1) Call a temporary hotel and make reservations for yourself and any children or pets that live at home.

2) Find out how long it will take for repairs to get started on the home. You'll want to know exactly how long you're going to be away from your home so that you can start arranging everything else with your schedule in mind.

3) Make a list of necessities like medication, toiletries, clothing, and anything else that's important to have at hand while gone from the normal routine of life.

4) Keep this list updated as needed throughout repairs on their house. So they're always prepared for anything unexpected happening while they're away from their home.

Prepare a List of Possessions to Save

If you have a house fire, you're likely to be in a hurry to save your most important possessions. However, this can often lead to forgetting small items that are still important. It is why it's so important to prepare a list of the possessions you want to save before the fire occurs (especially if your home has already been condemned).

If possible, create a list of those items and store it somewhere outside the home. If not, write down what you'll need for yourself and your pets. It will make things easier when you eventually have to leave your home.

Create an Emergency Fund

The first thing you want to do is create an emergency fund. It will help cover your living expenses and other necessities while your house is being rebuilt during the construction period. For example, you can use your emergency fund to stay in a hotel, purchase food, and pay for necessary bills.

Strongly Consider Selling Before Your House Gets Condemned In Connecticut

Hire A Realtor

Before your house gets condemned by the fire departments, you should try to hire a real estate agent. A reputable agent will be able to help you find a new place to live before your house is condemned. They'll also be able to help you sell your current home and make sure it doesn't turn into a complete disaster in the meantime.

The downside to hiring a realtor is you'll need to pay them 6% commission on the sale price.

Sell To Real Estate Investor

Working with a real estate investor will certainly make the process hands off. We just need the disclose of the house under going a fire and where the fire originated. Then we take it over from there and do our own due diligence. 

The upside to working with a real estate investor that buy damaged houses all the time as is we pay cash, all closing cost, we close within 30 days or less, and the process is completely hands off for you and YOU DONT PAY A DIME.