Senior Health & Aging Support Group

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Steps

foxysdad
foxysdad
I have a problem that scares me every day,,,getting up and down my front steps. The front door to my rent house won't open. I don't know the reason. Because of this, I must use the steps to the front door to get my mail. Going up is bad enough, but going down is a horror. I have trouble with my balance and arthritis in my left knee. There aren't any hand rails and the steps themselves are small. I would go to the landlord, but there have been expenses cutting down a dead tree and he has mentioned having to raise the rent because of taxes. Does anyone have an idea how I can solve the problem?
MAGICpill
MAGICpill
Yes by law they have to have a railing for steps. The landlord or owner of the property is responsible for putting a handrail on all steps.

Ask him to do it or just mention about there being a law or contact the building code dept in your city
MAGICpill
MAGICpill
I googled Texas law handrail on steps and alot of info popped up.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=les%3B&gs_nf=3&gs_rn=0&gs_ri=hp&gs_mss=texas%20law%20hand&cp=28&gs_id=32&xhr=t&q=texas+law+handrails+on+steps&pf=p&tbo=d&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&oq=texas+law+handrails+on+steps&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=c93fc80484cd35a5&bpcl=39468505&biw=1257&bih=683
foxysdad
foxysdad
When I rented the house I rented "as is". Plus, I was in fairly good health with no problems with my legs. I didn't really take a good look at the house before I rented it and later found some problems. It didn't have a shower so I made a makeshift one. There was only one set of electrical plugs in each of the bedrooms and the side door leading to the carport didn't have a dead bolt lock that could be opened from the outside. I needed an extra set of plugs in the bedrooms. After some rainy days of having to run to the front door, I asked the landlord if I could make some additions using money from what my mom me when she died. I had a new dead bolt to the side door and added the plugs and a motion light in the carport. It made things a lot safer and dryer. So, with taking the house as is, I cannot ask or demand a hand rail. I have solved part of the problem by using a ladder next to the porch to get down. The other problem will have to be solved by me by getting my legs in better shape.
ROZIA
ROZIA
ask him if you could build the stairs and he supply the lumber...some landlords will do this .... I am sure he doesnt want a lawsuit if you should fall.....
foxysdad
foxysdad
I couldn't build the steps if you held a gun to my head. Just don't have the skills. May check a contractor about the cost of building it. I can forget about all this if the house would shift to allow opening the front door. I may check with the landlord about that. But, even if the front door can be repaired, I still need to get off my butt and get my legs in shape.
MAGICpill
MAGICpill
You being the renter and him the owner by law he needs to put handrails. It's a business to him and he deducts everything he does to the rental house off his taxes.
zzztop
zzztop
That is really sad to me. These landlords I rented for about 14 years and my landlady did nothing. I had to use my own money to paint, clean the rug anything really. and she made me real nervous. so I never asked her but a few times to fix anything. less i had to do with her the better i felt. But i think if you are a senior citizen Hand rails are a neccesity something strong to hold on to for balance and get into your house. But I think you feel intimadated because the landlord mentioned raising the rent. I own my own house now and it feels wonderful not feeling intimadated any more by some stupid landlord. Good luck zzz