I live in North Hollywood and the central air in my building is broken.......?

Question

It has been up to 113 degrees in my apartment and the management is not going to do anything. Is there anything I can do legally? it ws listed as an amenity when we moved in. Should I ask for a rent break, could I get one or be entitled to one?

Answer 1

what exactly does "broken" mean? Does it mean there is no electricity in all the apartments? or in just yours? If yours has the problem then the apartment complex owners are supposed to fix it when you put in a service call. Certain you can pay your rent thru the court till they fix that. Or, they should be offering you a cool unit to live in till that is fixed, or sending you to a hotel. Our apartment complex is on the ball and when we call in a service call, i.e. for ac, toilet overflowing, etc., the important stuff, they are right here within minutes fixing it. So something is happening with your complex owner. Talk with them directly and write a note asking that it be fixed (keep a copy) and if it's not fixed immediately then go to a hotel (of course keep checking on it to see that they have or haven't been to your place) and send your rent to the court till they fix it. I would presume if you contact the court then you would have documentation, plus your proof from receipt from staying in a hotel that you could take to small claims court. Be sure you have a witness.

Sometimes though if you keep running the ac and it's super hot then the unit will freeze up. When that freezes up too often they will give up on you. What you should be doing is alternating with 2, 3 or 4 other fans for circulation in addition to the AC they provide to you. I heard that if you put up a wet towel some distance away from the fan that it will blow cool air into the wet towel and then make the room cooler, although I have not tried that yet myself.

Answer 2

This heat is unbelievable, isn't it? Wierd. It gets hot in the valley, but this is rediculous!
If the AC was listed as an amenity, you dropped the ball when signing your lease. That "MAY" protect them from liability.
However there are laws pertaining to landlords, and those laws require the property owner to provide an adequate, and livable unit.
If your life is at risk, and in this heat it truly is, then you may be able to file a law suit, but by the time any action is taken, you'll be a melted glob of goo on your living-room floor.
Your best bet is to get an AC by any means you are able. If you cannot afford one, there are a lot of charitable organizations that are perfectly willing to assist you in procuring one. The Red Cross is usually useless, and Goodwill is only full of good will for themselves, but call the Department Of Human Services. Explain your situation, and they will locate for you some organizations that will help.
I have 2 AC window units just sitting in my storage, and I'd give you one if it was possible. I feel for you.
Get some AC now, and file your law suit later.
Woah! I just caught that. Central Air? If the building has a central air system, then it is absolutely the building owner's responsibility to repair it. It will be winter by then, but it strengthens your case against the slumlord.
Man, that makes me so mad I could spit. Sue the scum, but for now, try to get cool.


Nad