I came home to water damage & a hole in my ceiling

[Sinamenone]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Md
Good morning,
I came home from work last night & noticed water stains on my wall, ceiling & plaster hanging which then fell. Maintenance moved my area rugs from the bathroom, left a door tag but no one phoned me. About an hour ago the ceiling caved in & the hole is extremely larger now. I phoned "emergency maintenance" twice, left 2 messages but no reply. I sent an email to the main office & customer service attaching the video i took.
Why wasnt i notified & told what happened & that maintenance had to enter my apartment? The office opens @ 9am & I'm so angry i don't know how to address them.
Can you tell me what my rights are? Can i demand to be moved, hold out on next months rent or do u have any recourse?
I live in District Heights...Prince George's County

Thank you

 

[Ohiogal]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Md
Good morning,
I came home from work last night & noticed water stains on my wall, ceiling & plaster hanging which then fell. Maintenance moved my area rugs from the bathroom, left a door tag but no one phoned me. About an hour ago the ceiling caved in & the hole is extremely larger now. I phoned "emergency maintenance" twice, left 2 messages but no reply. I sent an email to the main office & customer service attaching the video i took.
Why wasnt i notified & told what happened & that maintenance had to enter my apartment? The office opens @ 9am & I'm so angry i don't know how to address them.
Can you tell me what my rights are? Can i demand to be moved, hold out on next months rent or do u have any recourse?
I live in District Heights...Prince George's County

Thank you

Is the hole open to the outside? You have to give them time to fix it. Five minutes it not reasonable.

 

[Gail in Georgia]

"Why wasnt i notified & told what happened & that maintenance had to enter my apartment? "

Because this would be considered an emergency and thus your permission to enter the apartment would not be required.

You wrote this at 7 am and you indicate the office opens at 9 am. Your "rights" are to give them some time to address this repair issue.

Gail

 

[Sinamenone]

How much time? No the hole isnt open to the outside

I went to the office @ 9am & was told no manager is available or on call on weekends but the maintenance manager would be notified. This is an "emergency maintenance" issue, yet its 12:09 & I haven't heard anything yet.
Is there a "reasonable" amount of time i should wait?

 

[justalayman]

I went to the office @ 9am & was told no manager is available or on call on weekends but the maintenance manager would be notified. This is an "emergency maintenance" issue, yet its 12:09 & I haven't heard anything yet.
Is there a "reasonable" amount of time i should wait?

What is the emergency maintenance issue? Is water running somewhere? Is there a hole to
The exterior in the wall?

I suggest they abated the maintenance emergency. From this point forward it is simply a repair that needs to be addressed.

 

[Sinamenone]

The hole is an issue, no water running

One of my main concerns is odor & smells. I'm afraid there will be mold & mildew. The debris was cleaned & i was told an overflowing toilet tank above me on the 6th floor is the cause which ran down to the 2nd floor. Repair is allegedly scheduled for Monday.
When i cane home last night I saw standing water in my kitchen sink. I ran the garbage disposal it drained but filled back up. This happened several times. While i was cleaning & disinfecting my tub, I was thinking I'll use my plunger when i go back in the kitchen. I was in my bathroom about 20 minutes, when i came out & heard spilling water. My kitchen sink was overflowing water all over my countertop, down the lower cabinets, about an inch of water on the floor & it ran into my recently shampooed carpet. While I'm writing the sink has overflowed again. Maintenance did respond last night saying theyd return this morning.
I'm thinking of damage & the smells. Should i aak to be moved to another apartment? Is this a reasonable request? Of course I'm sure they wouldn't agree to this. Should i be required to pay a full months rent?

 

[justalayman]

If the move you to another unit or pay for alternate housing, yes, you would be liable for the full rent. If they do not provide alternate housing or pay for some sort of alternate accommodations then you would not owe the full months rent.


From what you have described it MAY require you to be housed elsewhere. Obviously we only "see" what you tell us.

 

[Gail in Georgia]

" While I'm writing the sink has overflowed again."

Are you running the water in your sink to cause this? If not, put the strainers in your sink to stop any back flow from the drains.

Gail