I live on the second and third floor of a two apartment victorian house. There hasn't been anyone on the first floor for years. (I know for a fact they just took out the old gas light fixtures a few months ago.) My floor is sooo cold, I dont put my drinks in the fridge, i put them on the floor. I dont mop as often because it forms ice in the corners of the room. I see my breath if my furnace isn't constantly on.....I have had no hot water for 3 days, ( I have to leave a moderate stream running at all times. The tub drain has frozen solid. I turned off the water to take a nap for an hour and a half, when I woke up: I only got a trickle of cold water before it completely froze.) My landlord has ignored calls about the celing caving in, lawn not mowed for six months, a large hole foot wide hole in the floor...Negliigent is a good term to use.
My question is, Can I make my landlord turn the heat on the first floor..legaly?
2007-02-04 23:51:37 · 10 answers · asked by cypher2b 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
Your landlord only legally has to provide you with heat to your apartment. He DOES NOT have to provide heat to an empty apartment.
With the exception of the hole in your floor, it sounds like you are exagerating everything and that nothing else is his problem. The grass doesnt need to be mowed if its the middle of winter.
It sounds like you need to turn your heat up a little bit, insulate your windows with plastic, ect. There are several ways to increase your homes efficiancy probably on your gas companies website.
If you have a problem with your ceiling, send your landlord a certified letter describing the problem. If he doesn't respond in a timely manner (1-2 weeks), then you might have a case against him.
As it stands, YOU have heat, so turn it up. He doesn't have to pay to heat an unoccupied unit.
2007-02-05 03:13:06 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact your local department of housing, tenant or consumer advocacy department, code enforcement, or an attorney. Best to start with an inspection by the housing dept., then have them notify the landlord that conditions are unacceptable. Usually, that will do the trick.
If the landlord fails to render the apartment habitable, then I'd speak with an attorney. Running water and heat are basic necessities. If the conditions are as bad as you state, you may be able to terminate your lease and recover some or all of the rent you've paid as damages, provided you've requested action from the landlord IN WRITING and given a reasonable time to correct. While the landlord certainly can't control the fact that the water froze, the extremely cold conditions inside the unit are likely a significant contributing factor.
2007-02-05 05:20:54 · answer #2 · answered by njc_flhtc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your landlord is in serious breach of health and safety, and the tenancy agreement. As a tenant the law is on your side. I don't know what coutry you live in, but I know the UK there is the Housing Act 2004, which was set up to protect your kind of situation. Personally I would go to the health department, and make it VERY clear to them how bad the situation is. Living in that kind of environment could be very detrimental to you health. I'm guessing this is a private landlord and you are paying all your bills and done everything on your side of the tenancy agreement. If you can afford to, move out ASAP - and I would take the landlord to court if you get no success from reporting it. If you cannot afford to move get in touch with your local council and tell them that you need their help, and explain the terrible conditions.
Your landlord is completely negligent and should never be allowed to rent out properties of such poor standard. Good luck.
2007-02-05 00:10:35 · answer #3 · answered by iccleanne 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call the city health department today!!
This is an illegal situation. They will start chacing him down to make the necessary repairs/replacement. But more likely they are going to illimnate this (probably illegal) rental space.
So contact the local department of HUD you can find them at
www.hud.gov Go to the rental department, then to your state, then find your city/county office. Tell them your situation. See if you can qualify for a rental subsidy. Get some help from several agencies at once. Ask them all to direct you to where you can get more help.
You can find a decent room to rent in a nice house and live like the rest of us humans. No need to suffer.
Best of luck,
2007-02-05 00:05:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
regrettably, while the owner lives interior the comparable place, the regulation regards it simply by fact the landlords abode - the place he can stay surprisingly lots as he likes. you will possibly desire to comprehend which you have not have been given any tenancy rights, so in case you wind the owner up, you will possibly desire to wind up evicted with in basic terms minimum word (month max), so whether you opt to or not, moving is often on the enjoying cards. Halogen warmers do not value lots to run, so could be a solid theory to your room, or consistent with probability you will possibly desire to positioned a £10 aside each chilly week so which you have gotten mark downs to make contributions to the better electrical energy you have used. even nevertheless lots you do not opt to pay attention this - i think of that's time you regarded for someplace new.
2016-09-28 10:56:19 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am no expert but, I would think that you can turn him into the health dept. Although, you might want to begin looking for a new home. I would. This doesn't sound like anywhere I would want to live. He can get in trouble for your living conditions and I am sure if you have a lease or rent agreement that would all be waived, due to the circumstances of your living quarters.
2007-02-04 23:58:46 · answer #6 · answered by tinbarnprimitives 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest that you take pictures of these things that are wrong, send him a certified letter with copies of the pics and state that unless these things get fixed, you will notify the health authority in your city and that you will be placing the future rent monies in escrow until these things get fixed. Make sure that you are not in any violation of the lease first so that he has no basis to evict you. Make sure that you have copies of the letter that you send and keep all copies of the pics in case he does try to evict, you can prove your case in court. Email me if you have any questions about this.
2007-02-05 10:42:01 · answer #7 · answered by caf68 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YEP!! If necessary, try the police and see if they can come see how bad your situation is and they can go talk to him. GOOD LUCK
2007-02-05 00:00:21 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don`t think that place is safe to live. Move.
2007-02-04 23:57:03 · answer #9 · answered by bill a 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yep because heat is necessary for you to stay alive.
2007-02-04 23:56:01 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋