No Cliff's Notes. Update below.
At the end of March, I moved into an apartment (1 yr lease). The complex is one of the oldest in the city, but I liked the location. I'm on the top floor (6th). The building is going through some major renovations, so I was expecting some minor problems, but I wasn't prepared for what's been happening.
Before I hand over my rent check, I'm giving this list to the manager. On the back is a large picture of my wall:
1. Walls:
A week or two after I moved in, rusty water started running down the walls in one of the bedrooms. I asked what was going on and was told it was from old metal on the roof. I was assured that it was being fixed and that I should try to clean the walls with WD-40. Now that the roof is being ripped out and replaced, this rusty water is pouring from three of the walls. It?s on the carpet and foyer floor.
I?ve had to move almost everything out of the room in fear that it will be ruined. Luckily, I have yet to buy new furniture.
2. A/C:
I was notified that my a/c would be disconnected for most of the day (Thursday, 5/26) in order to continue with roofing activities. I had no problem with that since I would be at work. I arrived home around 4PM and the a/c was still disconnected. The a/c was not turned on until almost 8PM. By the time the a/c was fixed, the inside temperature was 87°F. By midnight, the temperature was still around 80°F (the temperature was lower outside).
Additionally, the a/c is inadequate for cooling the apartment. I can set the thermostat to 65°F and the apartment will get no cooler than 72°F or 73°F. **I posted a thread about the temperature here.***
3. Bathroom:
During this past weekend, the paneling in my bathroom started leaking rusty, smelly water. The floor, toilet, sink, and shower were covered in the dirty water. The panels are swelled and look like they are going to fall. I reported the problem on Monday morning. As of Wednesday morning, the problem still exists. The bathroom stinks and it?s making my apartment humid and musty.
I am trying my best to tolerate this situation. I understand there is a lot of construction (which has lasted until 8PM on some occasions), but I have been frustrated and under constant duress. What am I supposed to do?
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I've been documenting when problems are reported. I've also taken pictures of everything.
Looks like Blood
Pretty Puddles on the Carpet
My question is this: What should I do? I like the manager and the location. I've been assured that things will be taken care of once the roof is finished. People at work have suggested that I don't pay the rent, pay part of the rent, call the fire marshall's office, call a local TV Station that loves these stories, etc.
I'm trying my best to be friendly. Should I ask for discounted rent? How hard is it to get out of a lease? It pisses me off to think about moving...even to another apartment w/in the complex.
update
The manager has guaranteed the leak is fixed. They ripped the entire roof out to find it.
The bathroom has partly been fixed. They have removed the soaked tiles and will replace them tomorrow.
The painters will be in to repair/paint all the walls tomorrow. Friday, they will steam clean my carpets.
She claimed that no one else had an a/c problem. As we were talking, a guy came in to pay the rent and made the same complaint. He is on the 3rd floor and can't get it cool. It should be taken care of Thursday.
Also, due to the excess amount of "down time," she will be giving me a credit for most of next month.
Normally, I'd be a complete asshole over this....I guess being nice may pay off 🙂
At the end of March, I moved into an apartment (1 yr lease). The complex is one of the oldest in the city, but I liked the location. I'm on the top floor (6th). The building is going through some major renovations, so I was expecting some minor problems, but I wasn't prepared for what's been happening.
Before I hand over my rent check, I'm giving this list to the manager. On the back is a large picture of my wall:
1. Walls:
A week or two after I moved in, rusty water started running down the walls in one of the bedrooms. I asked what was going on and was told it was from old metal on the roof. I was assured that it was being fixed and that I should try to clean the walls with WD-40. Now that the roof is being ripped out and replaced, this rusty water is pouring from three of the walls. It?s on the carpet and foyer floor.
I?ve had to move almost everything out of the room in fear that it will be ruined. Luckily, I have yet to buy new furniture.
2. A/C:
I was notified that my a/c would be disconnected for most of the day (Thursday, 5/26) in order to continue with roofing activities. I had no problem with that since I would be at work. I arrived home around 4PM and the a/c was still disconnected. The a/c was not turned on until almost 8PM. By the time the a/c was fixed, the inside temperature was 87°F. By midnight, the temperature was still around 80°F (the temperature was lower outside).
Additionally, the a/c is inadequate for cooling the apartment. I can set the thermostat to 65°F and the apartment will get no cooler than 72°F or 73°F. **I posted a thread about the temperature here.***
3. Bathroom:
During this past weekend, the paneling in my bathroom started leaking rusty, smelly water. The floor, toilet, sink, and shower were covered in the dirty water. The panels are swelled and look like they are going to fall. I reported the problem on Monday morning. As of Wednesday morning, the problem still exists. The bathroom stinks and it?s making my apartment humid and musty.
I am trying my best to tolerate this situation. I understand there is a lot of construction (which has lasted until 8PM on some occasions), but I have been frustrated and under constant duress. What am I supposed to do?
----------------
I've been documenting when problems are reported. I've also taken pictures of everything.
Looks like Blood
Pretty Puddles on the Carpet
My question is this: What should I do? I like the manager and the location. I've been assured that things will be taken care of once the roof is finished. People at work have suggested that I don't pay the rent, pay part of the rent, call the fire marshall's office, call a local TV Station that loves these stories, etc.
I'm trying my best to be friendly. Should I ask for discounted rent? How hard is it to get out of a lease? It pisses me off to think about moving...even to another apartment w/in the complex.
update
The manager has guaranteed the leak is fixed. They ripped the entire roof out to find it.
The bathroom has partly been fixed. They have removed the soaked tiles and will replace them tomorrow.
The painters will be in to repair/paint all the walls tomorrow. Friday, they will steam clean my carpets.
She claimed that no one else had an a/c problem. As we were talking, a guy came in to pay the rent and made the same complaint. He is on the 3rd floor and can't get it cool. It should be taken care of Thursday.
Also, due to the excess amount of "down time," she will be giving me a credit for most of next month.
Normally, I'd be a complete asshole over this....I guess being nice may pay off 🙂
