Several folks on various lists have expressed the opinion that it's
unrealistic for tenants to want to go back into burned buildings to
retrieve possessions. For the benefit of anyone who hasn't read the
full threads on the Windermere, I'll summarize:
1) Entering the Windermere
Many, many folks actually HAVE been back in the building, including
city officials, maintenance staff (who were using power equipment -
saws? - in the building for hours last Saturday morning), PSPCA animal
trappers, dedicated City Kitties civilians, and desperate tenants who
managed to sneak in. Also, apparently, looters. Reports to the lists
& on site seem to indicate that there are a lot of areas on several
lower floors which don't appear to be unsafe. The fact that the owners
have now offered to have their representatives go back into the
building to help recover things the tenants need, is further
verification that there are areas which are safe enough to enter. But,
it took over a month & a lot of protesting and pressure to get the
owners to understand that the tenants deserve a chance to get back
things which are important to them. Unfortunately, the recovery offer
wasn't well publicized and is apparently for a very short time.
2) What tenants want back, vs. insurance coverage
I haven't heard tenants saying they want their clothes or furniture or
other things they could have insured (and maybe did). They are
pleading for an opportunity to get green cards, immigration paperwork,
a mother's ashes, computer hard drives, family photos - and their cats.
Insurance can't "make them whole" for these losses.
3) We need better city policies for the future
City Kitties, the tenants, and neighbors are asking the city to put
together a policy so that this won't happen again when there's another
fire somewhere else. Live pets should not be sealed into burned-out
buildings. (One tenant said that she snuck into the Windermere several
weeks ago, and found her parrot frozen in its cage.) The tenants' need
to recover pets and possessions should be a priority when the Fire
Marshall, L&I, etc. are working with the property owner to decide next
steps. Tenants should be allowed to meet with these folks.
4) Renters Insurance is available!
If you are a tenant, you can get it. Of course it won't help with the
irreplaceable items mentioned above, but it will help you get
replacement furniture, clothes, computers, etc. This tragedy shows the
value of having it. Where to get it? If you have a car, call your car
insurance company and see if they have it available. Call any
reputable insurance firm. Here's one that I know of: Abram Insurance,
an agency which has been providing insurance for West Philadelphia
residents for many, many years now. 215-884-1885. I checked with John
Abram this morning and he said that renters insurance policies cost
around $200 a year.
5) Landlords - be sure to carry Loss of Rent insurance!
BE SURE that your insurance policy includes coverage for "Loss of
Rent." Remember that even if the building burns, while you're waiting
to be able to rebuild, demolish, or whatever, the mortgage is due every
month. If you were counting on the tenants' rent to pay it, you're
going to be in trouble. Loss of Rent coverage is reasonably priced
(based on the gross rent), and it's extremely important to be able to
pay the mortgage!
Melani Lamond
Melani Lamond, Associate Broker
Urban & Bye, Realtor
3529 Lancaster Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
cell phone 215-356-7266
office phone 215-222-4800, ext. 113
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