What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New Jersey
I am a current renter in the state of New Jersey. I do not have a written lease. When I first spoke with my landlord about the apartment, she told me that the heat was included in the rent. There is a furnace for the radiators that is controlled external from my apartment (I have no way to control the temperature it is set at).
Recently, it has been very cold in my apartment (around 53 degrees was the lowest I have seen so far this year). I spoke to my landlord, and she said that she has it set at 60 degrees. The furnace company made a visit and said that the furnace won't turn on unless it's set higher (around 65). She wants it set at 60, which means no heat for me. Not to mention, the thermostat is in the upstairs apartment which will probably always be warmer than my apartment (ground floor), so it may never turn on. Her solution is to provide me with space heaters- which I am not comfortable with for safety reasons, appearance-wise, and also the fact that it now adds to the electric bill, which I pay.
Isn't there a minimum temperature to set the heat at? Is there anything I can mention to my landlord in terms of legal requirements, or am I out of luck since I don't have a written lease. The landlords son mentioned to me that she said she'd provide heat up to 60 degrees in the lease (I don't think he knows that I don't have a written lease, and also- is 60 degrees considered heat!?!?!)
I am very frustrated, as I pay a significant amount in rent for a small apartment, and the least I would hope to expect is to feel at least a little comfortable in terms of temperature (I don't like the apartment to be hot, but I don't like to shiver either).What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
I am a current renter in the state of New Jersey. I do not have a written lease. When I first spoke with my landlord about the apartment, she told me that the heat was included in the rent. There is a furnace for the radiators that is controlled external from my apartment (I have no way to control the temperature it is set at).
Recently, it has been very cold in my apartment (around 53 degrees was the lowest I have seen so far this year). I spoke to my landlord, and she said that she has it set at 60 degrees. The furnace company made a visit and said that the furnace won't turn on unless it's set higher (around 65). She wants it set at 60, which means no heat for me. Not to mention, the thermostat is in the upstairs apartment which will probably always be warmer than my apartment (ground floor), so it may never turn on. Her solution is to provide me with space heaters- which I am not comfortable with for safety reasons, appearance-wise, and also the fact that it now adds to the electric bill, which I pay.
Isn't there a minimum temperature to set the heat at? Is there anything I can mention to my landlord in terms of legal requirements, or am I out of luck since I don't have a written lease. The landlords son mentioned to me that she said she'd provide heat up to 60 degrees in the lease (I don't think he knows that I don't have a written lease, and also- is 60 degrees considered heat!?!?!)
I am very frustrated, as I pay a significant amount in rent for a small apartment, and the least I would hope to expect is to feel at least a little comfortable in terms of temperature (I don't like the apartment to be hot, but I don't like to shiver either).What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?