Who's responsible, me or the landlord?

Question

I've been renting my apartment for over ten years. My curtains are falling apart and many of the other apartments had them replaced with blinds when the tenants changed. Shouldn't I get the blinds too? Also, what's my recorse of the outside glass door is always broken and the security lights have not been fixed as I've requested numerous times?

Answer 1

I think the landlord is responsible... if you are having a hard time getting them ti fix stuff around there.. try sending them a letter,, and keep records of every time you try to contact them.. and then if nothing gets done report it!!!

Answer 2

I noticed you said, "when the tenants changed". You have no recourse about the curtains falling apart. Replace the curtains or ask the landlord if perhaps they would put in blinds for you also. The outside glass door and security lights are the landlords responsibility. Doesn't your state inspect rental properties? They have to be up to certain standards.

Answer 3

It's easy to assume that various things around an apartment are automatically the Landlord's responsibility. But you should read your lease contract very very thoroughly before jumping to any conclusions. Often times lease contracts have very specific information about who is responsible for what. Depending on how they're worded, you may be surprised to know that the renter actually has to shoulder some of the repair and/or replacement burdens.

If you DoN't have specific info in your lease, you should try to sit down with your Landlord and come to an equitable agreement as to who should do (and pay for) what. You may have some leverage, say, in threatening to move out and leave him/her with a vacant apartment that they would then HAVE to expend money on, in order to fix it up so as to be able to rent it again...

Last recourse would be to get an attorney who specializes in Landlord-tenant issues. Not fun, but often that is the only recourse. And those attorneys will know the applicable state laws that govern such matters that aren't spelled out in a lease. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that this can get costly and time-consuming, so proceed carefully!

Good luck.

Answer 4

Look in your rental agreement. There is probably something about it in your contract.

Usually the landlord is responsible for maintaining the security of the property - lights and doors included. You are just renting it isn't logical for you to replace a door.

Drapes - if he provided he should repair. I would tell him something along the lines of 'I'm buying new drapes the cost of which is $100 and I'm going to deduct out of my next rent check - if the drapes aren't replaced by the beginning of next month' Or, whenever your rent check is due.

Good Luck, sorry you have to go through this! :(

Answer 5

You as a renter are responsible to furnish your own curtains. The land lord does not have to add anything. They are responsible for having the glass door repaired if it was broken when you moved in. If it was broken by other means than you, they have to repair it. They also have to fix the security lights. If they don't report them to the city planing and building commission. You should learn your rights as a renter. I know them do you?

Answer 6

You are responsible for your curtains or if you desire to have blinds, you can put them up with your landlords permission. (since you have to attach it permenantly, I would ask him first).

Outside glass on the door is the landlord's responsibility, but, if it keeps getting broken out by "rascals", then he/she may not want to replace it, and personally I couldnt blame her as it would get expensive to do.

Security lights are his/hers also, but, security lights are an 'option' item, and not necesarily an item that is high on thier list of things to do.

Its up to them, how they want to upkeep thier place. Though, if you have a problem with something inside, like plumbing or other things, that are "permenant fixtures", then its the landlords problem to get them fixed.

I wish you well..

Jesse

Answer 7

If you haven't asked the landlord to do these things by phone, start there. If u have asked and got nowhere, try sending a certified letter (asking nicely) but firmly stating to get the repairs done within a certain period of time (30 days) and see what happens.

Answer 8

if the curtains were provided by you, you are responsible, if they were provided by the landlord they must change them. They must also repair the glass door and security lights. They are obligated to do this.

Answer 9

SECURITY LIGHTS AND GLASS DOOR IS LANDLORDS RESPONSE.... CURTAINS ARE MINOR AND CAN BE YOUR RESPONS OR ONLY LANDLORDS IF IN LEASE.......GOOD WILL HAS BLINDS AND CURTAINS BRAND NEW.....

Answer 10

you are responsible ,it is a decoration not a necessity, but you can take them with you. the only thing you can do about the light is tell him you are going to take the money off the rent and get it fixed. then see if he fixes it, i bet he will