Building Manager Refusing to Fix Broken Elevator

[maidao2001]

California

I moved into my apartment building a couple of years ago. I am disabled, and one of the selling points, by the building manager as a disabled renter considering renting on an upper floor was the elevator.

Since I have moved in, we have a new building manager.

The elevator has been broken now for several months. When I asked the building manager when they planned on fixing it, I was told "The elevator is a convenience for the handicapped" "If there was a fire, you would have to use the stairs" and "I don't know why any disabled person would move to an upper floor." I can barely make it up and down the stairs without experiencing great pain.

I have tried contacting the company that employs this building manager over a month ago about the broken elevator and have received no reply.

Where do I go from here?

 

[LdiJ]

California

I moved into my apartment building a couple of years ago. I am disabled, and one of the selling points, by the building manager as a disabled renter considering renting on an upper floor was the elevator.

Since I have moved in, we have a new building manager.

The elevator has been broken now for several months. When I asked the building manager when they planned on fixing it, I was told "The elevator is a convenience for the handicapped" "If there was a fire, you would have to use the stairs" and "I don't know why any disabled person would move to an upper floor." I can barely make it up and down the stairs without experiencing great pain.

I have tried contacting the company that employs this building manager over a month ago about the broken elevator and have received no reply.

Where do I go from here?

You might try here:

How to File an ADA Complaint

 

[bcr229]

Also try here since you're in CA: https://www.dfeh.ca.gov/housing/

 

[Zigner]

It might even be faster to work with the local city or county government.

 

[not2cleverRed]

1) Document your repair requests. In writing. Send a copy of your communications to the building manager's employer as well. Be factual in your communications: "The elevator in Building X is not working, and has not been working for ~Y months." The issue isn't that you are disabled - being disabled just magnifies the problem.

2) Check your lease. If the elevator is mentioned, great. (No worries if it wasn't.) You're entitled to expect things mentioned in your lease to work. If it is, you can state in your communications something like, "In paragraph A of my lease, the elevator is listed among the amenities. As such, you are required to maintain it in safe working order." You can reasonably request that you would accept, as a compromise and gesture of good will on their part, an equivalent accessible unit at no penalty/fine/other fee to you. However, I would be loathe to do this, because -

3) This is an apartment building. Not having a working elevator could be a violation for a variety of reasons. I don't know where in CA you live, so I would not know local codes. I suggest you look up your local tenant/landlord association AND look up your local community's building dept.

In Los Angeles County, for example, you could call 211. https://dpw.lacounty.gov/building-and-safety/codeenforcement/

 

[FarmerJ]

I too am surprised you didnt go to your city inspections department after two weeks with out the elevator. Once you have called inspections and they come out get a copy of the report for your records and PLEASE come back and tell us about your result.