During Older Duplex Inspection, Creepy Discovery.

[Nicholas Armstrong]

I need help!

So I recently got an inspection done on a duplex that we will be closing on next month.

We climbed into the attic hatch and it was completely open, nothing dividing the two units' attic! Which brings up two questions.

1. HOW CREEPY!? 

2. Isn't there supposed to be some sort of fire retardant wall between both units? 

Will this make my renters insurance go up? Can I even insure the property until it gets resolved? How much would it cost to fix the problem? 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Hattie Dizmond]

I read the title of your post and immediately thought you had found a body! This isn't creepy. It sounds like a SFR that was converted to a duplex.

What is required is governed by your state and/or local building codes and rental requirements.  In some areas all units must have fire doors and other separation.  In other areas older units are grandfathered in, unless you open things up and start making changes. 

Here in Dallas, we have a historic district with a lot of huge old houses that have been converted to 4-plexes. There is no fire separation in those units, including no fire doors. So, check with your local code enforcement division.