neglectful landlord

[STEPHAN]

The reason I came to this forum was because I don't know how this works. So why are you surprised?

Because you have neglected the issue for years, but now want lots of money back.

 

[FarmerJ]

You wrote > I know the LL is not paying income tax on my rent, because that is the only likely reason for required cash. guess all you want but I can see why some landlords would want cash only because cash cannot bounce put this all behind you now that you know you should have acted sooner with written repair request on paper sent via certified mail or mail tracking.

 

[madtenant920]

We are not surprised at all. You should hire an attorney to assist you.

Blue Meanie, why would I hire a lawyer to assist me if I don't have a chance of winning the case?

 

[madtenant920]

Because you have neglected the issue for years, but now want lots of money back.

Oh no, I found the water heater leak 2 weeks ago and decided to get out immediately. I had health problems for the past year, but wasn't sure it was caused by the apartment.

 

[Just Blue]

Blue Meanie, why would I hire a lawyer to assist me if I don't have a chance of winning the case?

Sorry...I should have posted this rather than this . As I was being sarcastic.

 

[madtenant920]

You wrote > I know the LL is not paying income tax on my rent, because that is the only likely reason for required cash. guess all you want but I can see why some landlords would want cash only because cash cannot bounce put this all behind you now that you know you should have acted sooner with written repair request on paper sent via certified mail or mail tracking.

Oh you must be a landlord. Listen, after I lived here 3 years and ALWAYS paid rent on time, they knew my checks would not bounce. But I still had to pay cash.

They were obviously doing everything possible to save every penny they could. They were cheating the government, and they did not care at all about my health.

 

[Just Blue]

Oh you must be a landlord. Listen, after I lived here 3 years and ALWAYS paid rent on time, they knew my checks would not bounce. But I still had to pay cash.

They were obviously doing everything possible to save every penny they could. They were cheating the government, and they did not care at all about my health.

I'm not a LL and I think you are ...off base. As a tenant I would have reported frigid temps right away. Why didn't you?

 

[madtenant920]

I'm not a LL and I think you are ...off base. As a tenant I would have reported frigid temps right away. Why didn't you?

I have already explained that, but I will explain again a little more carefully. I was able to tolerate the cold. I did not know, at that time, if my health problems resulted from the apartment. I was sick, working full time, and did not have the energy for moving.

I wanted to keep on having a friendly relationship with LL. I did not want it to become adversarial.

Things changed 2 weeks ago when I noticed the water heater leak and the wet carpet. And around the same time, a friend who had spent time in my apartment happened to mention symptoms exactly like mine.

I connected the dots, and came to the conclusion that I had to move right away.

Then I thought maybe I could be compensated for the extreme negligence and miserliness of my LL. I did some google research and found out there are laws about heat and hot water, where I live.

I figured my LL has broken several different laws, and therefore a judge might have more sympathy for me than for them.

 

[STEPHAN]

On the LL breaking the law you are guessing. In this country you are innocent until proven guilty. It is however a crime to call somebody criminal when he is not.

So, I would be very careful.

 

[STEPHAN]

Now on the water heater issues: Imagine you were the LL. How would you have fixed the water heater when you did not even know that it had a problem?

Why do you think he is responsible for it? Did he neglect anything? You clearly said that there was never a proper notice.

The LL has duties, but you have some, too. You did not do your job as a tenant and now you accuse the LL?

 

[Just Blue]

I have already explained that, but I will explain again a little more carefully. I was able to tolerate the cold. I did not know, at that time, if my health problems resulted from the apartment. I was sick, working full time, and did not have the energy for moving.

I wanted to keep on having a friendly relationship with LL. I did not want it to become adversarial.

Things changed 2 weeks ago when I noticed the water heater leak and the wet carpet. And around the same time, a friend who had spent time in my apartment happened to mention symptoms exactly like mine.

I connected the dots, and came to the conclusion that I had to move right away.

Then I thought maybe I could be compensated for the extreme negligence and miserliness of my LL. I did some google research and found out there are laws about heat and hot water, where I live.

I figured my LL has broken several different laws, and therefore a judge might have more sympathy for me than for them.

Okay Dokay.

 

[Eekamouse]

You are not entitled to a refund of a years' rent. How ridiculous to even think you should ask for that. Seriously. I bet the LL is happy you're moving out.

 

[Gail in Georgia]

"I only noticed the plumbing leak and the wet carpet 2 weeks ago, and immediately started finding another apartment."
"And living in a water damaged place can be very bad for health".

Really? Not so bad since you didn't notice this until two weeks ago and once again, instead of notifying the landlord, simply started looking for another apartment since your lease was up anyway.

"I know the LL is not paying income tax on my rent, because that is the only likely reason for required cash."

Actually you know absolutely nothing of this fact whatsoever and are simply assuming this. I have tenants who pay cash because they prefer to do so; one works as a bartender and pays her rent in tips, one young couple prefers cash to checks and I have one long term family who pays ALL their bills in cash and (I suspect) have never owned a checking account.

"I don't have to sue them, just thought it would be fair to pay for the misery I have experienced for a year."

Then consider this a lesson learned. If you have repair issues with a rental property your first step is notifying the landlord/management IN WRITING of these, keeping a copy of this documentation for yourself.

Gail

 

[madtenant920]

Now on the water heater issues: Imagine you were the LL. How would you have fixed the water heater when you did not even know that it had a problem?

Why do you think he is responsible for it? Did he neglect anything? You clearly said that there was never a proper notice.

The LL has duties, but you have some, too. You did not do your job as a tenant and now you accuse the LL?

I told the LL as soon as I noticed the water heater was leaking, and LL got a new one installed. However, they refused to replace the carpet that was wet from the leak.

Last year, LL accused me of using too much electricity, and I told them I use very little. I said the water heater might be the cause of the high electric bill. I did not know at that time that the water heater was 20 years old and was leaking. LL did not check the water heater, continued to accuse me of using too much electricity.

I did my "job" as a tenant and reported any problems immediately. But you seem to have forgotten that the tenant is the one who pays and the LL is the one who has the "job" of maintaning the apartment so it is reasonably livealbe.

I also told LL that the temperature was below 50 degrees F on cold days last winter. I told them more than once. They promised to replace the door, which had a large gap. However, I doubt that was the only reason for the cold temperature. They did replace the door, but not until last spring.

 

[madtenant920]

You are not entitled to a refund of a years' rent. How ridiculous to even think you should ask for that. Seriously. I bet the LL is happy you're moving out.

I realize that some LLs think all tenants are all low-life scum.