Apt rental, how much is adequate heating?

Question

I am unable to raise the heat in my apartment up to or past 70. Everytime I do the fuse on the heater either blows or is drained. Certain laws requires landlord to provide adequate heating. But on the coldest days of the winter, I can not raise the temp, past 70. Is there some way I can force my landlord to modify the heater so that a fuse is not required.
I'm furious about this because, I have 2 yr old child in the apt. He doesn't know better so he kicks off the blanket when he sleeps at night. The fuse on my heater has cut off on me in the middle of the night, bringing the temp below 50 degrees. (with temp being 17 degrees outside).
This fuse thing is redicoulous on a heater I have replaced it already over 5 times. A little advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

While I understand and sympathize with your situation, I don't believe a court would see 70 degrees as unreasonably cold. It would be against the law for him to bypass a fuse. He could have someone come in and look at it, to see why it was blowing fuses, but chances are the furnace is simply too powerful for the older electric circuit.

Ask your landlord if you can put space heaters in some of the rooms (new, electric ones with safety cut-offs), and he might allow you to.

Answer 2

tell the landlord if he does not fix it you will go to the housing authority and report him . And if your son gets sick you will be sending the medical bills to him . That should solve your problem and if he has a tone with you or becomes a smarta-- then do it report him . good luck .