We leased a commercial retail space in New Hampshire that has an oil furnace. When the time came to turn it on this fall, the landlord discovered it did not work. He had said the oil tank was full, but it was empty, and the furnace would not turn on.
The repair person came and after the repair, the underfloor crawlspace/hole where furnace and tank had a terrible odor. It is still seeping into the shop- and we are a nature store where serenity and scent sells our products. Thus, having it smell like exhaust or a gas station is NOT good.
The space had been empty for >1yr and the landlord did not once check to ensure the furnace was working.
Now, he wants to install electric heating units instead of using the oil furnace.
Do we have a legal right to a fully-functioning, non-stinking oil furnace, since that was the heating system in place when we signed the lease? Electric heat will be much more expensive.
And, since it is not practical to vent the dirt crawlspace below the building (our entire inventory would have to be removed from the shop and it is now the holiday season), what is our recourse for the stench? We leave every day feeling ill.
Thank you,
33k
The repair person came and after the repair, the underfloor crawlspace/hole where furnace and tank had a terrible odor. It is still seeping into the shop- and we are a nature store where serenity and scent sells our products. Thus, having it smell like exhaust or a gas station is NOT good.
The space had been empty for >1yr and the landlord did not once check to ensure the furnace was working.
Now, he wants to install electric heating units instead of using the oil furnace.
Do we have a legal right to a fully-functioning, non-stinking oil furnace, since that was the heating system in place when we signed the lease? Electric heat will be much more expensive.
And, since it is not practical to vent the dirt crawlspace below the building (our entire inventory would have to be removed from the shop and it is now the holiday season), what is our recourse for the stench? We leave every day feeling ill.
Thank you,
33k