What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? DC
DH and I are considering buying at the end of our current lease term (yeah, that's a year away, but we're planners), and we have one question regarding our obligations. We have a fireplace in our apartment. We use it occasionally. The upstairs neighbors also have fireplaces in their units, and they use them frequently. All four fireplaces share one chimney at the apex. When we moved in here last year, LL stated she had it cleaned "about a year ago." We know this isn't safe, but we've been using creosote-be-gone and encouraging our neighbors to do the same to prevent a chimney fire. Do you all think that cleaning the chimney is something that we would be responsible for (i.e., something the LL would deduct from security for), or, since it is a shared part of the building, something she would be responsible for? Our lease is silent on the issue.
DH and I are considering buying at the end of our current lease term (yeah, that's a year away, but we're planners), and we have one question regarding our obligations. We have a fireplace in our apartment. We use it occasionally. The upstairs neighbors also have fireplaces in their units, and they use them frequently. All four fireplaces share one chimney at the apex. When we moved in here last year, LL stated she had it cleaned "about a year ago." We know this isn't safe, but we've been using creosote-be-gone and encouraging our neighbors to do the same to prevent a chimney fire. Do you all think that cleaning the chimney is something that we would be responsible for (i.e., something the LL would deduct from security for), or, since it is a shared part of the building, something she would be responsible for? Our lease is silent on the issue.