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Is this letter to my apartment over the top? *TINY UPDATE*

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No Lifer
The guy below us continues to use his barbeque and stink our apartment out. I've complained several times. This is the second letter and I'm about to print it and drop it off to them. I wonder if I took the silly humor a bit far 😛

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Management,

I am formally requesting that my lease agreement be modified to allow the use of a BBQ on my balcony. The original lease agreement I signed states that Outside cooking on a grill must be done at least 20 feet from the building or roof overhang. Also FIRE LAWS AND INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS PROHIBIT THE USE OF BARBECUE GRILLS IN BREEZEWAYS, BALCONIES OR PATIOS.

However, over recent months I?ve learned that there is an elite group of tenants exempt from these rules, and I want in. The tenant below me is such an example. Prior to the new management at APARTMENT overseeing the premises I left either two or three complaints with the old about the resident below my apartment using his grill. During his cook-offs our apartment serves as the smoke stack.

APARTMENT now has new management and this letter represents the third complaint to new management about the resident below us; indeed this letter is lucky number five, all complaints considered. Tonight at about 8:30 pm I once again caught the smell of cooking meat wafting up into my apartment and went outside to confirm with my own eyes that it was indeed the resident below me up to his old tricks once again.

I?m coming to two conclusions: either APARTMENT is not serious about its own fire laws spelled out in tenant leases, or APARTMENT is unable - after four prior complaints - to control a particularly problematic tenant.

At the end of my last letter I finished by ?trusting? that this problem would be taken care of. I change that now to ?hope?. I believe that I?ve been exceptionally patient with this ongoing situation but should it happen again I will have to come to the realization that APARTMENT is not upholding its end of the lease I am now a part of.

Sincerely,

*TINY UPDATE*: I called them to confirm they got it and she said she'll open it now and what was it about so I mentioned it to her and she said "oh my gosh!" and I said "The tone of the letter is a little sarcastic but if you read it through you'll see where I was going with it." So she said thanks And that's that.
 
At the end of my last letter I finished by ?trusting? that this problem would be taken care of. I change that now to ?hope?.
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LMAO...A little over the top, but, very funny.🙂
 
I would add that this is your LAST attempt at getting this situation resolved. If it is not resolved you will be looking for a new place to live and that the lease has been broken by them for not holding up their end of the agreement.
 
Originally posted by: Codewiz
I would add that this is your LAST attempt at getting this situation resolved. If it is not resolved you will be looking for a new place to live and that the lease has been broken by them for not holding up their end of the agreement.
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I think the last sentence got at that. Not quite as directly but you don't really need to read between the lines to understand what I was saying.





 
Originally posted by: pulse8
Why move when you could probably just withold rent? 🙂
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Ah that's a game I really don't want to play...it's fun to write a letter like this. Something altogether different being in court explaining why you didn't pay rent 😉

 
Hmm.. when I lived in an apartment people did this all the time, including us. I never knew it was illegal.
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: pulse8
Why move when you could probably just withold rent? 🙂
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Ah that's a game I really don't want to play...it's fun to write a letter like this. Something altogether different being in court explaining why you didn't pay rent 😉
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In a lot of states, if the management doesn't fix problems (usually mechanical, but this may count anyway, I would check) you can withhold rent until it's fixed (or if it's mechanical, you can fix it yourself and deduct it from the rent).

You could end up in court anyway for breaking the lease, but if you can legally withold rent, at least you wouldn't have to move. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Ultima
Hmm.. when I lived in an apartment people did this all the time, including us. I never knew it was illegal.
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Depends entirely on the lease.

In regards to the lease I do not mind living here and our lease continues for another 4 months, but I won't be dicked around by management with the money we're paying each month for rent.

 
Have you tried talking to your neighbors below.

A lot of times just asking them to simply move the BBQ farther away from apartment is all it takes. Sometimes they may not be aware of laws and codes, not everybody reads those contracts fully. The last thing you want is to get into a pissing contest with other tenants.

If you try asking, and the letters don't work. Try calling fire department, a lot of times they will send a whole fire truck to put out things like that.
 
A lot of times just asking them to simply move the BBQ farther away from apartment is all it takes. Sometimes they may not be aware of laws and codes, not everybody reads those contracts fully. The last thing you want is to get into a pissing contest with other tenants.
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That's exactly why I didn't say anything the first time. My hope was that the apt complex would not name names, so that I don't get a neighbor who thinks it's fun to get back at me by keying my car. In retrospect it's possible he would have gone along with my wish not to BBQ, but it seems a little late for any of that. I'm sure he's been told by management not to do it by now, but for some reason continues.
 
Originally posted by: godmare
Very Skoorb-esque, as is expected. Maybe call the fire departmetn next time if no resolution?
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I agree, CC a copy of the next one to the Fire Marshall and the company that owns the complex. not the managing company.


**EDIT**

I love the "intelligent" ads at the bottom - 4 out of 5 are ads for gas grills and barbeues!
:Q
 
Ahhhh, apartment life. We had problems with our downstairs neighbor too, except ours were the more traditional kind - he liked his stereo and apparently wanted to share it with the rest of the building. We tried talking to them directly and also tried the letter/speaking with management route. I've pretty much come to the conclusion that most apartment mangers couldn't really care less unless the complaints come from numerous residents. With as much turnover as there is in apartments (at least here in Birmingham) it's no skin off their backs if you're unhappy and move out.

Time for you two to get a house. 😉 There's one for sale in our neighborhood.

 
I like it - humorous but serious as well...good luck. I wish I could barbeque here in Ann Arbor in March.

I miss Birmingham. 🙂
 
don't be a spoilsport..just close your damn balcony door when he's cooking. a man just wants some grilled steak. that's one of the best smells in the world anyway.
 
Well having been in management before I can tell you being sarcastic isn't the way to get things done. The manager will toss this letter in the trash. Now I didn't have to say you have to be nice either.

In a letter like this you must be direct, state the problem in the first sentence. The problem: "The tenant below me is using a bbq grill. This violates fire codes, the apartment lease contract and creates a dangerous environment in my apartment for HEALTH REASONS." The second sentence should be how many times you have observed the BBQ grill being used and the dates. Paragraph number two should be what you expect to be done. You need to tell them what you expect, don't ask for anything to be done, tell them - but don't be an ass either. "I expect this problem to be resolved within the week to prevent an unhealthy environment in my apartment and to relinquish the fire hazard being causes by the BBQ grill." Paragraph 3 is the closing, thank them for their time and tell them you will be looking to see the problem solved. " Thank you very much for your time, I look forward to seeing this matter resolved immediately."

I know it feels good to be a wise-acre in a complaint letter, but trust me - those types of letters get thrown in the trash. I have throw letters away like yours without reading past the first line. The manager has probably ten letters to read the same day he reads yours and doesn?t want to be humored.

Be direct; don?t ask for help, tell them what needs to be done. Thank them.

I hope I have been of help!
 
I bet if you peed off your balcony onto the guy's head and food he would start to cook indoors.


That or shoot you in the crotch.
 
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