My washer and dryer keeps going out in my apartment, it has gone out twice in the last month. What should i do

Question

Should i pay all my rent, the washer and dryer is already included in the rent. Is there any laws or codes that i can throw up in they face. The washer have water still in, thats been in there for the last mth. The reason i havent gotten the water out because the maintence man said if we do anything to it, it would cause interference for the warrenty. Some one please help. I stay in Georgia is there any laws about this.

Answer 1

Contact your local Fair Housing department, and ask them where you can get a copy of your local Landlord/Tenant law. Sometimes the state has one, but they can also verify by cities.

To find a local Fair Housing office, go to:

http://www.fha.gov

If that water has any elements in it, it could be hazardous to leave it in the washer. I would (if it were me) hire an outside contractor to fix the washer, and deduct the amount from your next months rent, and provide the landlord with the bill. A washer is not that hard to fix, nor should it cost that much to get it fixed. If there is a "warranty' on the washer, why are they not giving you a new one? It's broke?

Answer 2

I would calculate what it will cost to take your laundry to a laundrymat, and then provide that in writing to the landlord, stating that since the services aren't being provided, he'll be charged that amount (which you'll short out in your rent payment) - give him 2 weeks to fix - make sure you mail it with a signature guarantee so that he can't say you didn't tell him.

The water is a health hazard - let your maintenance man know that if the water isn't out in 2 days, you'll call the health department - that will get them moving.

Answer 3

Do not follow the advice of others in withholding charges for laundry from your rent payments. Georgia law does not provide this option, and you could face termination and eviction for doing so.

Feel free to tender an invoice to your landlord for these charges, and ask him to pay for them.

Answer 4

If the landlord will not have them repaired or replaced, then send him a letter with your next rent check stating that if he doesn't fix or replace them in 30 days, you will replace them and deduct the cost from your next rent. Check with some form of legal counsel first, though. First, to make sure this is legal in your state (this is a legal recourse in California); second, to make sure you do it in a manner that follows the prescribed manner of execution; and finally, to see if there is any other recourse in your state. Your only other recourse is to start looking for a new apartment.