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Faulty Stove caused fire landlord charging us the tentants for damage??

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sarahmariet

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
WA state
We had mentioned to our landlord our stove was faulty one of the burners would occasionally shoot flames.. never had it on paper. Never got a new stove.
my boyfriend started some boiling water stepped away and a moment later he noticed smoke. The whole area above the stove was on fire! It was fairly severe, destroying the microwave above and one cupboard.And severe soot damage thruout. Land lord checked the stove said it was faulty but it probably didnt cause the fire?!?!? Everything needed to be cleaned, sanded, painted. Our landlord told us if we did what work we could do it would be even. He wanted to do the paint because it was oil base, so they sanded and painted. We just got a letter now a month later from our landlord saying he wants $1000!! What should I do? Our whole time here as not been up to legal standards anyway! Indoors wasnt all painted for move in. House was dirty! Bath tub. edges of all surfaces thru out house.Heat can be shut off by the downstairs neighbor! In which our landlord said to turn the oven on to heat the house!! I could go on But really need any advice on what to do! Thanks so muchWhat is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
 


FarmerJ

Senior Member
Are you on a fixed term lease ? ( If so how many months left to go before lease is up? ) If LL has not fixed the stove call building inspections in and tell them what the stove has done in the past , cleaning issues when you moved in pointless to bring them up now, the time to complain would have been on move in day to take pics and refuse to accept the apt in the condition it was in or to just deal with it taking pics of before you cleaned it and after for your own records. Heating complaints if heat is included and not sufficient then fair odds are the best thing to do is talk to inspections about it. BTW if inspections finds the stove to be unsafe then it will make a arguement from you that your not obligated to pay the 1k even stronger other wise your LL can take you to court where you can use inspections findings to dispute that you owe that money. In the end dont expect a renewal of what ever your rental agreement is , Do expect that you should take pics of the units final conditions so you have a record of how clean you leave it when you have to fight for deposit refund.
 

Searchertwin

Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
WA state
We had mentioned to our landlord our stove was faulty one of the burners would occasionally shoot flames.. never had it on paper. Never got a new stove.
my boyfriend started some boiling water stepped away and a moment later he noticed smoke. The whole area above the stove was on fire! It was fairly severe, destroying the microwave above and one cupboard.And severe soot damage thruout. Land lord checked the stove said it was faulty but it probably didnt cause the fire?!?!? Everything needed to be cleaned, sanded, painted. Our landlord told us if we did what work we could do it would be even. He wanted to do the paint because it was oil base, so they sanded and painted. We just got a letter now a month later from our landlord saying he wants $1000!! What should I do? Our whole time here as not been up to legal standards anyway! Indoors wasnt all painted for move in. House was dirty! Bath tub. edges of all surfaces thru out house.Heat can be shut off by the downstairs neighbor! In which our landlord said to turn the oven on to heat the house!! I could go on But really need any advice on what to do! Thanks so muchWhat is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
Did you send the problem of the faulty stove in writing to the LL? If not the LL could say you never reported the problem and you would be responsible for the fire.

The problems not being up to legal standards, should have been dealt with at time of signing lease or at first time you was told to use the stove for heat. Crying about it now is just crying. But you can start now with ccr letters to LL about heating problems.

But the painting expense is yours to pay. You should have done the job when offered by the LL.

Even if building inspector indicates that stove is unsafe to use, this is after the fact. The building inspector cannot prove the stove was unsafe before the fire.
 
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