Slammedtgs
Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois.
(not really seeking advice, just info for others)
Background Information:
Owners, 2 - No other employees.
Own 15 apartment buildings of varying size in college town.
Lease effective 8/3/2008
Moved in 8/17/2008
On the initial walk though with landlord there were a few issues that I requested be fixed. The bathroom exhaust fan switch was old and worn out, a small issue. Landlord promised it would be fixed by our move in date. That never happened. Shortly after moving in, the bathroom sink no longer hot water was no longer flowing. I requested that to be fixed, landlord agreed thats a problem and will be corrected asap.
Landlord claimed a licensed plumber came to the unit and replaced the faucet, however the faucet didn't look now and still didn't work. So I took a marker and marked the underside of the faucet and asked the landlord if they could look at it again. He saw me a few days later said there was some confusion and it was not changed but would be over the weekend.
Again, landlord said it was changed and if it still doesn't work there is some other issue but "the plumber is confused on this one" and we are still working on it. (The switch is still not working either)
So after another 4 verbal request, having the landlords (both) look at the issues again I decided that this is more likely a case of the landlords knowing what the issue is, but not wanting to pay for it to be fixed.
I submitted a written request to their work order request box (10/6/2008) I asked for them to fix the issues that we have been promised since before we moved into the apartment. I asked them, if they feel it is my responsibility to make the repairs please give me written permission (lease prohibits repairs unit without written permission). Also, the landlord said he isnt sure why his brother has not gotten it fixed, and instructed me to put this request in the box and make it clear that Its long past due.
So on 11/17/2008 I came home from a weekend away and went to due dishes. Realized now there is no water (hot or cold) flowing from the kitchen sink. I had to do dishes, so i did them in the bathtub. I tried to call both landlords twice, to let them know of the new problems. I left messages, did not get any phone calls back. I also submitted a new request for the new issue to same box, only to find the first from 10/6/2008 still sitting there. I decided they probably just don't want to fix the issues - maybe they think im just a baby, and cant deal with small issues.
So, I called the city code enforcement division to ask them about the issues, if they were violations. Well, sure enough the landlord responded to the city CED. This morning I got a call from the landlord, from his vacation, clearly upset and not recalling ever talking about any of said issues.
Landlord said "since you have called the city on me this dynamically changes our relationship". He also stated that, " His plumber informed his this would be a several thousand dollar repair, ill need to live with it" (confirming my thoughts of them not wanting to spend money but knew what the issue was) He asked that I call him back, which I did. I left a message explaining I didn't want to bother him while on vacation, and would try to contract his brother again to get the issues fixed.
I got a hold of his brother, saw him outside the building. I talked to him, and he agreed that on the last time of him coming to inspect about the issues he dropped the ball and forgot to get someone over to fix them. I also let him know of the new issues and if they were not fixed within the two weeks allowed for repairs in the city I live in. I would seek constructive eviction and then recover damages from having to move to another (likely more costly) apartment in the middle of a lease. The landlord said if i want to move out I am free to leave whenever - that plenty of people are interested in my unit.
I told him, that was a last resort but was willing to go to that route if need be. Issues were promised to be fixed tomorrow, or Saturday.
It just goes to show, sometimes you have to keep pressing issues to get them fixed. Some landlords are just in the "game" for money, others are nice people.
Hopefully this helps someone else.
(not really seeking advice, just info for others)
Background Information:
Owners, 2 - No other employees.
Own 15 apartment buildings of varying size in college town.
Lease effective 8/3/2008
Moved in 8/17/2008
On the initial walk though with landlord there were a few issues that I requested be fixed. The bathroom exhaust fan switch was old and worn out, a small issue. Landlord promised it would be fixed by our move in date. That never happened. Shortly after moving in, the bathroom sink no longer hot water was no longer flowing. I requested that to be fixed, landlord agreed thats a problem and will be corrected asap.
Landlord claimed a licensed plumber came to the unit and replaced the faucet, however the faucet didn't look now and still didn't work. So I took a marker and marked the underside of the faucet and asked the landlord if they could look at it again. He saw me a few days later said there was some confusion and it was not changed but would be over the weekend.
Again, landlord said it was changed and if it still doesn't work there is some other issue but "the plumber is confused on this one" and we are still working on it. (The switch is still not working either)
So after another 4 verbal request, having the landlords (both) look at the issues again I decided that this is more likely a case of the landlords knowing what the issue is, but not wanting to pay for it to be fixed.
I submitted a written request to their work order request box (10/6/2008) I asked for them to fix the issues that we have been promised since before we moved into the apartment. I asked them, if they feel it is my responsibility to make the repairs please give me written permission (lease prohibits repairs unit without written permission). Also, the landlord said he isnt sure why his brother has not gotten it fixed, and instructed me to put this request in the box and make it clear that Its long past due.
So on 11/17/2008 I came home from a weekend away and went to due dishes. Realized now there is no water (hot or cold) flowing from the kitchen sink. I had to do dishes, so i did them in the bathtub. I tried to call both landlords twice, to let them know of the new problems. I left messages, did not get any phone calls back. I also submitted a new request for the new issue to same box, only to find the first from 10/6/2008 still sitting there. I decided they probably just don't want to fix the issues - maybe they think im just a baby, and cant deal with small issues.
So, I called the city code enforcement division to ask them about the issues, if they were violations. Well, sure enough the landlord responded to the city CED. This morning I got a call from the landlord, from his vacation, clearly upset and not recalling ever talking about any of said issues.
Landlord said "since you have called the city on me this dynamically changes our relationship". He also stated that, " His plumber informed his this would be a several thousand dollar repair, ill need to live with it" (confirming my thoughts of them not wanting to spend money but knew what the issue was) He asked that I call him back, which I did. I left a message explaining I didn't want to bother him while on vacation, and would try to contract his brother again to get the issues fixed.
I got a hold of his brother, saw him outside the building. I talked to him, and he agreed that on the last time of him coming to inspect about the issues he dropped the ball and forgot to get someone over to fix them. I also let him know of the new issues and if they were not fixed within the two weeks allowed for repairs in the city I live in. I would seek constructive eviction and then recover damages from having to move to another (likely more costly) apartment in the middle of a lease. The landlord said if i want to move out I am free to leave whenever - that plenty of people are interested in my unit.
I told him, that was a last resort but was willing to go to that route if need be. Issues were promised to be fixed tomorrow, or Saturday.
It just goes to show, sometimes you have to keep pressing issues to get them fixed. Some landlords are just in the "game" for money, others are nice people.
Hopefully this helps someone else.