Is my Landlord responsible for fixing my closet or am I?

Question

I rent a room in a house where 2 other people also rent rooms. Our landlord & his wife also live in the house. In my room, I have a sliding closet door that is only fixed to a track on the top of the doors, not the bottom. So naturally, when I open/close my closet, the doors swing. Twice now, the doors have popped off the tracks & have gotten stuck where I am completely unable to get into my closet. I asked my landlord twice to fix it & the 2nd time, he made a big fuss about it, saying "there you go, i've fixed it for the 4th time now" (it was only the 2nd) & he said it does that because I swing the doors (i guess implying it was my own fault they broke). He made me feel bad for asking him to fix it. My question is was I right in asking him to fix it if I was unable to or should it have been my responsibility to find someone to fix it for me? For example, one of the other male renters? (I'm female and not quite strong enough to pick up the doors once they've snapped off)

If it helps, I'm from California, and I'm not sure what the repair laws regarding lodgers are in this case.

Answer 1

your landlord is responsible

Answer 2

In my opinion, if the doors were in good working order when you or the other renters moved in, and the slider on the bottom is brocken due to neglect or abuse, then the renters are responsible. Unfortunately if this is the case, then good luck finding a roomate to admit they did it. Perhaps it was broke without anyone's knowlege.
On the other hand, if the slider came off because the screws backed off, then the landlord should fix it. More often then not, these types of closet doors are troublesome.
Approach the landlord as a freind and ask what can be done about a door that does not work that you may not have broken. Ask him/her if it is preferred to leave it broken, and leave it to them when they want to fix it.
If the landlord is not knowlegeble on home maintenance/repairs, then perhaps he just never really fixed the real problem, and just put the door back on the tracks. They must have a slider at the bottom and the top rollers should be properly adjusted.
Maybe if the landlord does'nt want to deal with it, maybe you can find a freind to help you, or get advise from a knowlegable salesperson at a hardware store, chances are that the sliders are the main problem, and they're cheap. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Always put all complaints in writing! Otherwise, if you don't and you move out, your landlord could hold your deposit for any costs necessary for repairs after you move out. So write your landlord a letter and explain the situation with the closet door in detail, including the fact that his two previous attempts at repairing the door were not satisfactory since the door keeps coming off the track. And be sure to mail the letter CERTIFIED; that's the only way it will hold up in court if the landlord tries to blame it on you.

Also, as a warning...whenever you rent property you should always do a full inspection of the property and note anything that is not working properly, anything that needs repairing...down to mere marks on the walls. Then send it to the landlord CERTIFIED MAIL. The landlord may not fix all (or any) of the things on your list, but at least you cannot be held responsible for these items when you move out.

Answer 4

It's up to the landlord. It's not your fault. He obviously isn't fixing them right or the doors are garbage to begin with. This could be beacuse the rail is crooked, the support it is screwed to is weak. or perhaps there is suppose to be a guide on the bottom of the door.

If he actually forgets how many times he has helped you he has probably fixed it before you moved in or had others with the same problem.

Do not try to fix it yourself or get someone else to fix it for you. If you do and it becomes damaged you are liable.

The Landlord depends on tenants for income. If you feel you are being mistreated by your landlord don't be afraid to treat him with a little less respect. There are other places you can rent from.

Answer 5

Actually, it isn't that hard to fix yourself, I am only 5'1" and weigh 95 pounds and yes, they are hard to pick up. Get one of those man folk (hopefully a cute one) to help you. Do that little helpless act and make your voice go up a couple of octaves and ask in the most kitty kat voice you have, "Uhhm..do you think you could help me with my closet doors? I'm just not big enough to fix them". See what happens. I bet you every single man renter in the building will jump to help you. Enough for funning around.

There are ways to adjust the rollers. Landlords are infamous for getting away with what they barely have to do. You can actually unscrew the whole roller and bracket from the closet door, and readjust it to where it won't keep coming off the track. Make one of them man renters help you. If you like where you live or just don't have the money to move, I always suggest not pissing the landlord off.

And you know what? One of them single, cute renters may just get your interest going, and then, not only will you have a fixed closet door, you might have a hot date for Friday night! LOL!

By the way, even if you need to replace the brackets, they're very cheap and worth it. Good luck Sweetie!

Answer 6

Every State is different here is a web site once you go on site than up in the left hand side click on, Laws & Statutes and than click on your state hope ever thing works out for you.


California Landlord Tenant Laws and Statutes:
Fair Housing Agency:
Department of Fair Employment & Housing
1330 Broadway, Suite 1336
Oakland, CA 94612-2512
[phone]

Notice of Entry: 24 Hours
Lease Termination: 30 Days (California Civ. Code 1946)
Security Deposit: Must be returned within 3 weeks
Consumer Protection Office:

Department of Consumer Affairs
Assistance Office
400 R Street Rm. 1040
Sacramento , Ca 95814
[phone]
[phone]

Answer 7

Do you have a lease or rental agreement? If so, what does it say regarding repairs? One of the things that worries me about your situation, is whether or not the landlord will hold you responsible for "damaging" these doors, even though they apparently pop out of the tracks with very little help from you! (I know the type of doors you are talking about and I hate them!) Putting them back on the tracks doesn't help. The hardware is faulty and in order to fix them permenantly, a carpenter is going to have to take them down and fix the track. I think you need to approach your landlord with these questions and find out where you stand.

Answer 8

Since your landlord fixes things himself, you may want to be aware of something called "reasonable repair." This basically means yes, things have to get fixed(unless you broke it and then it is on you). If he fixes things himself, he has the responsibility, by law, to do it correctly. If he can't he needs to hire someone. These are basic rights that tenants have in every state. He has no right to make you feel bad for asking him to do his job. Beef up on landlord-tenant law, you need to know your rights, ALL of them. I would also get a new place if you can, when your lease is up. Think about how it will be if something serious breaks.

Answer 9

It sounds like that door was like that before you moved in. The landlord should not be getting upset with you. If he has it fixed properly(like maybe installing a track on the floor) you both could be happy. Yes the landlord is responsible.

Answer 10

Your land lord is totally respondsible for the problem, thats why you pay rent lol, he apparently doesn't know how to do the job properley, how would he not like getting he rent? You have alot of renters rights my friend, this guy is lazy and not doing the job right or it would be fixed... been there, closents like that suck.. but it's still his problem.. i just had my landlord put in a 6000, dollar air condinator, he didn't like it.. but i'm a renter. Do your job buddy,right the frist time.. Don't let this guy intemiate you, sometimes legal ais will give free advice.. you have rights my friend..sharon from nev. but lived in calif, for years..

Answer 11

Whether you broke it or it was already broken, he is responsible for all maintenance because you are paying for it each month. A landlord do have the right to charge you more if you are constantly destroying his property.

Assert your rights and tell him that you are out of there. Give him a deadline and stick with it.