I can smell a gas leak in my rent house and landlord has ignored written and verbal requests to fix, what now?

Question

There have been several, numerous times I have come home and smelled gas. The leak has to be coming from our gas stove as it is the only indoor appliance we have that uses gas. I have notified my landlord in writing and verbally numerous times to repair it, but he has made no effort at all to check into it. The gas company has said they can send a service tech out to check and fix it, but we will have to pay the bill. We feel like the leak is making us ill and are wondering what we should do? Please Help!!

Answer 1

Get insured, light a match, and instruct your next of kin to sue;)

Answer 2

You would be smart if you just paid the gas company to come and do it. It's your health at stake - no small amount of money for a service call is more important than YOU!
and it may be something else - have them check the pilot lights for the burners and in the oven itself (if you've got an older stove); and have them check the line connections. Also have them check you water heater if it is gas, too.
If money is tight, explain that to the person at the gas company - they may be able to work out a payment plan. They're really good about those kind of things.

Answer 3

See what happens when you stop paying rent.

Also check your lease to see what is covered, you may be responsible anyway.

See if there is a valve to disconnect the stove, turn it off and see if there is still gas leaking.

As an alternative, pay the plumber/gas company, send the bill to the landlord and deduct the bill from your rent payments.

Answer 4

It depends on what country/state you live in and the wording of your lease agreement. In some states, you can file in the local courts, start putting your rent payment in a separate account until the leak is fixed instead of paying it to the landlord, or pay for the gas company to fix it and reduce your rent payment accordingly.

Check your local government website.

Answer 5

Call the Gas Company and tell them that you suspect that the Gas is leaking and schedule for them to come out. Then call the housing authorities and tell them the situation. If you have copies of the letters that you have sent it would be better and let them know that you are either going to call the gas co. or already have.

Answer 6

Get the gas company to fix it then send the landlord the bill. If you signed a contract its most likely in there that he has to deal with things like this. If he doesn't pay it then you can take legal action, not only for breach of contract but for endangering your life.

Answer 7

Calling the gas company to come out and inspect will get your gas shut off. Having the gas shut off will give you grounds to break your lease. Be prepared to do without the gas stove until you move! Good luck to you!

Answer 8

Call your town Board of Health or building inspector to have them check it out. They can fine your landlord and make him pay to have the repairs made and they may even make him pay for a hotel room for you while the repairs are being done if they cannot be accomplished in a day.

Answer 9

call the gas co. imediatly & don't light a match then move out he can't get u for a broken lease because he broke the lease first by not fixing the problem, renters always have more rights than the landlords

Answer 10

i had the same problem in one of the rent house i live in and finally had to move the gas got so bad that i could not live there any longer. the gas was fixed after i move go figure that one out.
if i was you move and don't make your family sick from the gas smell.

Answer 11

well if the place burns down, you can sue the landlord because you told him about the problem....and he is neglecting it.

now if your getting ill, or if the doctor finds a health problem in you or family due to a gas problems....than you can sue the landlord for everything his got....make him pay for his neglects.