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MEMO
#1036: Distinguishing Between Debris and Personals - 04/04/03
By
far the greatest percentage of mortgagor complaint issues
that we deal with has to do with missing personal property.
These complaints often arise after exterior debris removal
has been completed, because distinguishing debris from personals
can be a difficult task. However, when it can be reasonably
determined from the documentation in the file that items removed
as debris should have been classified as personal property,
the mortgagor and/or the client will look to Safeguard to
either return the property or reimburse the mortgagor for
the cost of the item(s).
As
a general rule, any item that looks like it has value-even
garage-sale value-should be classified and reported as personal
property and should not be removed and dumped as debris.
Here
are some guidelines to help you distinguish between personal
property and debris.
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An
item should not be classified as debris just because
it's located outside.
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de-bris
(n.) discarded waste: litter
Webster's II, New Riverside Dictionary
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Remember that there are many times when a mortgagor may
re-occupy a property or return to the property in search of
personals.
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Work
order updates
There is a place to
list exterior personals in
addition to exterior debris and health hazards.
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Please
take the time to distinguish between
exterior personals and exterior debris!
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On
a related topic, please also be sure that your bids to remove
interior health hazards only include items that meet the following
HUD definition of health hazards:
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clarification, examples of health and safety hazards
are all poisonous or inflammable materials such as pesticides,
household chemicals, solvents, paint, car batteries,
car parts, tires, oily water, waxes, antifreeze, pool
cleaners; decaying food and other organic matter,
dead animals, animal feces; and broken glass. |
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HUD
Mortgage Letter 2002-10 Attachment 5, page 1
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Anything considered a health hazard by the local municipality
for health and safety hazard requirements should also be deemed
a health hazard for our purposes.
Canned
food, spices, and other non-perishable food items should be
considered personal property, not health hazards.
Health Hazards:
NOT
Health Hazard:
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