Rent Reduction

[wondering1975]

I live in PA. On Dec. 14, we woke up at 4 am to a leak that was occuring in the hallway and left the hallway and bathroom flooded, due to an ice storm the night before. We called maintenance immediately due to this being an emergency and still leaking and getting worse. (Slowly soaking the carpet and making it's way to the table, desk, computer etc). My boyfriend had to leave for work at 5 am. I noticed that the leak from the roof was moving into the family room and was reluctant to move furniture because I was 7 months pregnant, but I did. Well maintenance didn't show up until 10 or 10:30 am to take pictures. Later that day a carpet cleaner came to soak up the water (6 gallons of water). He cleaned the carpets but figured he would be back. The next day they told us that they couldn't do anything for the drywall that was coming apart until the leak stopped. Then painters came in and redrywalled about 4 days later. Had to come back the next day and repaint. Both the carpet and wall stains came back. So the carpet guy and ceiling guy came back, repeatedly. Okay then, now we got the holidays upon us and of course everyone taking time off...The carpet guy had to do the carpets 4 times because the ph level was so high and the ceiling guy came in like 8 or 9 times. The entire project was finally finished Wed. Jan 10, 2001.
We called the management and wanted to know if they would reduce the rent due to our inconvenience. After ignoring us for a week or so, they finally told us "No" (which I knew they would) saying that it was a 1,2,3 step project and was taken care of in a timely manner and they wouldn't compensate us for it. Now my question....Do we deserve compensation due to inconvenience (people in and out of our home, pregnant, mess, holidays). Obviously this was like a 20 step project.....should we feel taken advantage of? We've paid our rent and it is basically over but we are angry and curious what others may have to say. Your answers will help me to decide whether to renew our rental agreement.
Thanks for all help.

 

[djdj]

This is a hard one........yes you should get something for your troubles

BUT BUT BUT A judge will probably side with the landlord due to the fact they had made a good faith effort to fix it in a timely fashion....you may not think so, but unless the landlord had his own crew of people (painters drywall installers carpet cleaners) on the payroll as employees....

Then He had to get outside help, and its the busy season...and UNLESS it is a health hazard which it is not.The Landlord is NOT under any OBLIGATION to hire people at PREMIUM rates...like overtime.

So it all depends on wether you like where you are living..if not then move.

PS.....you should have renters insurance just in case anything would get damaged...I pay $225 a year LESS THE $20 a month....for $40,000 contents and $500,000 liability in New York City...pretty cheap huh!

[Edited by djdj on 01-12-2001 at 10:13 AM]

 

[wondering1975]

Yes we are going to get renters insurance incase this happens again but we just thought that they could reduce the rent a little. We tried entertaining here for the holidays and 2 birthdays and the place was an absolute mess. Maybe I was thinking crazy. They don't care, they just want their rent. Right?

 

[djdj]

It was a mess, but they were responsive, and under the circumstances it could have been faster, maybe.

Your family functions are NOT IMPORTANT......what is important is if you had to move in a hotel room or missed days from work that could be a claim to reduce the rent a little, since you had to spend some real money.

Oh when it comes to renters insurance look for The Travellers Ins co., they are THE ONLY insurance company that doesnt DISCRIMINATE based on your lifestyle!

NO KIDDING.....they will treat $10,000 worth of compact discs the same as $10,000 worth of Broyhill furniture, most insurance companies have dollar amount limits on CD's computers etc.