What is the legality of living in an apartment without a working kitchen?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What is the legality of living in an apartment without a working kitchen?
About 2 months ago 1 of our dogs turned on a stove while we were at work and set our kitchen on fire. While a cleaning company was removing the burned kitchen they found asbestos in the kitchen so they stopped working. Give or take 3 weeks later another company came in and removed that and the burned matter. Now 1 more month has gone by and we still have no word of anyone working on our kitchen. Then 3 days ago we saw our first contractor and when he went to get a permit he was told “it is illegal for someone to inhabit a home without a kitchen” and we are now being told to leave the home. Is there anywhere I could find this law or any way around it?
Asked on November 7, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Colorado
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
My understanding is that it is not illegal to inhabit a dwelling unit without a kitchen that is functioning. Many people live in a boarding house situation where there is a common kitchen sometimes off site of the unit actually being occupied. Running water and a bathroom are a requirement for habitability purposes.
One reason for you to leave the unit that had a fire is due to the discovery of asbestos in the unit which is known cancer causing agent. Possibly the reason for you not being allowed to live in the home is the fire issue and the discovery of the asbestos.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.