Are landlords required to fully disclose any plumbing problems?
I moved into my new apt on Feb 11th of this year. On the 12th it flooded for the first time. It has flooded every week (sometimes more than once) since then. Last week they supposedly fixed the problem but only because it has been affecting the restaurant below me not because of my complaints. When I inquired about it being fixed earlier they just told me it was an ongoing process. The apt itself and some of my belongings have suffered water damage as a result.
Now the building was fully aware of the plumbing problems in my apt but I was never told about them before I signed my lease. Is that legal? I had assumed there was some sort of full disclosure statute that prohibited that from happening.
I live in DC by the way if that changes things.
Answers:
I'm not familar with the law in DC, but in CA, i think the landlord has to tell the tenants of any problems (like with the plumbing) before the tenant signs the lease. Besides, its not right (in my opinion) to withhold info like the plumbing problem from future tenants, especially if the landlord already knew about it.
I suggest asking the DC housing authority about this. I think they would give you a better answer and tell you what your rights (as a tenant) are. http://www.dchousing.org
I would think that if they were having an on going problem such as that they should have disclosed it to you before you signed a lease with them.
Consult with an attorney, I'm sure you should be able to sue them for any damages you may have and should be able to get out of your lease with out a problem. They should have let you know that it was an every week problem.
Talk with a lawyer, you have the right not to have to go through this every week, that's just crazy to have to put up with.
Best of luck to you, go after them!
They should tell you but most never do. It is usually best to have renters insurance in case of problems like floods or fires. Several years ago I use to clean flood and fire damage and I know what it's like to see people loose valuable things because of this. I would see a lawyer and try and get compensated for all you have lost and been through. Also I would start looking for another place to live and this time have someone who knows about these things come with you and look at the apartment too so they can tell you if anything serious is wrong.
Contact the local housing authorites. In some areas if one writes a legal letter to the apartment, which states if the problem is not fixed with x amount of time. A plumper will be hired by you to fix the problem his bill will be deducted off the rent. However check with the local personnel to make sure your state allows it.
Are landlords required to fully disclose any plumbing problems? -- Is really the wrong question.
If apartment that floods weekly for 6 months than the landlord is violating the warranty of habitability. That warranty is not waivable.
So your landlord is violating the law, even if the landlord had told you before you moved in that it would flood every week, and you agreed to live there under those conditions the landlord would be violating the law.
You can sue for your damages. Also if you have a lease you can move out. You can also call a plumber have it fixed and deduct what you paid the plumber from your rent.
Morally they are, but they don't tell you everything. All they want is the rent on time.
As a plumbing contractor I know building owners must keep their plumbing in a safe condition and leaks are not considered safe as the land lord is now open for a major law suit due to mold exposure by the building occupants
I also work as an expert witness and have won many cases where the tenants received several hundred thousand in compensation
RE:" You can also call a plumber have it fixed and deduct what you paid the plumber from your rent."
WRONG as a master plumber I cannot work in any building with out the Land lords permission or the managing agents as this is called trespassing and work not authorized by the owner I can be held criminally responsible for.
The renter can contact the building department or department of health BUT cannot hire someone to do the work
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