What can I do as a tenant?
I have been having a problem with the hot water heater in my apartment. It started about 5 mo ago when the thermal coupler went on it I called my landlord and he said he'd get someone to look at it well I went all weekend with no hot water and I finally got the gas co to look at it, they told me it was the coupler so I bought the part and had my ex install it. We have gone through 5 of them at least, this time around when I went to g et the part I found out they have been recalled due to problems, I tols this to my landlord and gave him the info to contact the co that was over a week ago and I still have no hot water I have 3 kids the oldest is 7 who need to be able to take warm bathes and boiling water for the tub is a major inconvenience I had to check into a hotel 3 times so we could take showers and bathes, can I withold rent until he fixes things. I'm paying $800 and he does nothing but collect the rent, also can I deduct the hotel from my rent?
Answers:
Every landlord must, by law, provide basic utilities and services such as hot water, and perform repairs within a reasonable time. He should have taken care of the water heater the very next business day or boil your water himself. There is no excuse for this guy. Withholding rent may or may not be an option for you, as some states do not allow it. You can certainly call the local housing authorities and report your landlord to them. If worse comes to worse, you could get a repairman to come fix the water heater and then present the landlord with a bill. If he doesn't compensate you by reducing the rent to make up for the money you spent on the repairs, then take him to court. And although the landlord is not exactly responsible for your hotel bills, you would be entitled to be reimbursed for any days you were displaced from your apartment due to any defective conditions that prevented you from living there, by a corresponding reduction in your rent. Best of luck.
Let him know about the problem (one more time) but this time ask what he intends to do about it and when. If the answer is wishy washy tell him you intend to get it done by such in such date and will send a copy of the receipt with your reduced rental payment.
Document everything that has and has not happened.
if you plan on fighting this, you can deduct the chgs from your rent, in addition to that, you should have had a plumber install a new gas HWH and deducted it all.
It is the duty of the LL to maintain adequate hot water, water, windows & screens, plumbing, electrical, roofs and locks on adequate doors.
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