What is the name of your state? Minnesota
My family and I moved into a 3bedroom unit of a 4-plex building on February 1st, 2007. Since then we have had nothing but problems with our apartment. Before we even moved in we did the usual security deposit check-in form where it was written on there that there was a leak under the bathroom sink. We expected them to come fix it within a few days but after nearly 5 months of repeated phone calls and emails to the landlord and building owner, I had to chase the maintanance guy down the road to get it fixed. The leak was so bad that there was almost an inch of standing water under the sink which rotted out the wood so bad that it is bowed. There is also a big mold stain from where the water had been sitting. Then came the issue with our central air conditioner....when we first felt the need to turn on our central air, around the end of april, it would only work about 20% of the time, and even that 20% wasnt all that great. We called the landlord about that and she did send a maintanance man out here and all he did was replace the furnace filter and wipe off a coil. Since that did not help, we continued to call the landlady. We were either ignored or given false claims that repairs would be made within a few days. Then around the beginning of June the AC quit working all together. It would turn on, but it blew hot air. Finally the landlady had a professional heating and cooling company come out to look at it and he told us (and the landlady) that it needed a new compressor. So we waited again...then when we called about it about a week later she told us that she was going to have a different company come out and look at it. The came out and told her that the entire system needs to be replaced, new outside unit, furnace, etc. They also gave us a written copy of there findings for our records. That was July 30th, 2007. Initially the landlady told us that it would be a few days before anyone would be out there to do an estimate or whatever and see what needed to be done. So we waited again. After about 3 weeks went by we called her and she told us to "buy fans". Then she told us that we could "sweat our asses off" til the end of our lease because she refuses to fix it.
Also, eash unit has there own separate water heater. Ours is in a closet in the hallway. The water heater is leaking so bad that the floor underneath it has rotted away and has sunk about an inch.
Also, our sliding glass door leaks so bad when it rains that it pours in down the inside of the glass and fills up the track on the bottom and floods the floor in front of the door.
We have reason to beleive that three is a major mold problem in our unit due to all the water leakage. I have never had allergy-like problems before, but ever sicne I moved in here I have been sick with cold and flu-like symptoms. Also, my two year old son wakes up with heat rash on a daily basis due to the heat in our apartment. We finally had to go and buy a window AC unit to have in our bedroom and now all 4 of us sleep in one room. We have contacted our city's housing inspector and he told us that the city we live in does not enforce building codes for apartments. So basically they are allowed to have slums here? What the hell? We have also contacted lawyers and they keep telling us to contact the housing inspector!! We have taken pictures of all the damage and have made copies of the letters we have sent the landlord to make repairs. I was jsut wondering if this is a legitimate case to sue the landlord after we move out. I have read that the law in MN states that the landlord must make the unit habitable, meaning that it must be safe, sanitary, and fit to live in. I do not think that our apartment is fit to live in. If anyone can help me and let me know if we have a legitimate case against the landlord and property owner, that would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!!
My family and I moved into a 3bedroom unit of a 4-plex building on February 1st, 2007. Since then we have had nothing but problems with our apartment. Before we even moved in we did the usual security deposit check-in form where it was written on there that there was a leak under the bathroom sink. We expected them to come fix it within a few days but after nearly 5 months of repeated phone calls and emails to the landlord and building owner, I had to chase the maintanance guy down the road to get it fixed. The leak was so bad that there was almost an inch of standing water under the sink which rotted out the wood so bad that it is bowed. There is also a big mold stain from where the water had been sitting. Then came the issue with our central air conditioner....when we first felt the need to turn on our central air, around the end of april, it would only work about 20% of the time, and even that 20% wasnt all that great. We called the landlord about that and she did send a maintanance man out here and all he did was replace the furnace filter and wipe off a coil. Since that did not help, we continued to call the landlady. We were either ignored or given false claims that repairs would be made within a few days. Then around the beginning of June the AC quit working all together. It would turn on, but it blew hot air. Finally the landlady had a professional heating and cooling company come out to look at it and he told us (and the landlady) that it needed a new compressor. So we waited again...then when we called about it about a week later she told us that she was going to have a different company come out and look at it. The came out and told her that the entire system needs to be replaced, new outside unit, furnace, etc. They also gave us a written copy of there findings for our records. That was July 30th, 2007. Initially the landlady told us that it would be a few days before anyone would be out there to do an estimate or whatever and see what needed to be done. So we waited again. After about 3 weeks went by we called her and she told us to "buy fans". Then she told us that we could "sweat our asses off" til the end of our lease because she refuses to fix it.
Also, eash unit has there own separate water heater. Ours is in a closet in the hallway. The water heater is leaking so bad that the floor underneath it has rotted away and has sunk about an inch.
Also, our sliding glass door leaks so bad when it rains that it pours in down the inside of the glass and fills up the track on the bottom and floods the floor in front of the door.
We have reason to beleive that three is a major mold problem in our unit due to all the water leakage. I have never had allergy-like problems before, but ever sicne I moved in here I have been sick with cold and flu-like symptoms. Also, my two year old son wakes up with heat rash on a daily basis due to the heat in our apartment. We finally had to go and buy a window AC unit to have in our bedroom and now all 4 of us sleep in one room. We have contacted our city's housing inspector and he told us that the city we live in does not enforce building codes for apartments. So basically they are allowed to have slums here? What the hell? We have also contacted lawyers and they keep telling us to contact the housing inspector!! We have taken pictures of all the damage and have made copies of the letters we have sent the landlord to make repairs. I was jsut wondering if this is a legitimate case to sue the landlord after we move out. I have read that the law in MN states that the landlord must make the unit habitable, meaning that it must be safe, sanitary, and fit to live in. I do not think that our apartment is fit to live in. If anyone can help me and let me know if we have a legitimate case against the landlord and property owner, that would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!!