Landlord dragging feet getting my washer fixed

[effowe]

Last Sunday my washer started leaking a lot of water all over the floor and it seeped into our downstairs neighbors apartment. I began trying to get a hold of my landlord immediately to get someone out there to take a look. I was finally able to set up an appointment with Sears to get someone out last Thursday. They took a look and said it would be 700 or so to fix.

Here is the problem, the landlord said that I needed to get approval from him if the repairs were going to be over 300 dollars. I tried contacting him Thursday night and all of Friday with no response until after 6:30pm (via email.) The response I get from him is that he has "already contacted his insurance guy and his attorney" about the situation, but he still hasn't given me an answer about actually fixing the thing. Sears said it could take up to a week to order the parts, so that would put us at over 2 weeks without a washer. This was an amenity that came with the apartment, so my question is this..

Am I able to deduct the cost of having to take my clothes to the cleaners off my rent next month (send him a check minus the cost of cleaning, and send him the receipt?)

Am I able to get any compensation for not having this amenity for that period of time?

Cliffs:
1) Washer broke last week
2) Landlord taking his sweet time giving me approval to have it repaired
3) Can I get compensation for this?

 

[darkxshade]

don't wash your clothes for 2 weeks, what's the worse that can happen?

 

[Genx87]

What the hell kind of washer is it? I can get a new one at Sears for less than that repair lol.

Not really sure on your compensation situation. What does your renting contract state? My guess is if it isnt in the contract you may not be able to recoup much.

 

[effowe]

Originally posted by: Genx87
What the hell kind of washer is it? I can get a new one at Sears for less than that repair lol.

Its a Kenmore Stackable washer dryer unit. I priced them at about $1000 new, but then there's tax and delivery and removal of the old unit, so it would be at least a few hundred more than that.

 

[DrPizza]

highway robbery on that price for repairs. wtf could break, causing leaking, that costs anywhere near that range to replace?

 

[sjwaste]

Call an attorney yourself. Depending on what state you're in, you may be able to do the repairs yourself since the owner isn't responding (and bill him for it), or send your laundry out (and bill him for it). It's generally going to be state or local law, though, so you need to contact someone who'd know.

 

[effowe]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
highway robbery on that price for repairs. wtf could break, causing leaking, that costs anywhere near that range to replace?

Well I guess the tub was leaking, which in turn leaked into the transmission. Both of those were to be replaced, with 200 something in labor pushing it up to that total.

 

[Modelworks]

Get a second estimate.
That is WAY over priced for any damage a leak could do.

 

[EagleKeeper]

1 Wks of laundy per person is about $5 at a local laundry mat.

Do you want to get into a pissing match over $20-$30?

 

[isekii]

why dont you just use the laundry service and deduct it from the rent ?

Just drop off several huge loads and let them deal with it. Once the landlord sees the receipt for like $100 bucks for laundry, i'm sure he'll be willing to fix it asap

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

probably not much you can do. A washing machine would be viewed similarly as air conditioning, as a non-critical item. You aren't in any health or safety risk, so not likely you can force his hand or be reimbursed for any repairs. It sucks, but thats how it usually is.

 

[effowe]

Originally posted by: isekii
why dont you just use the laundry service and deduct it from the rent ?

Just drop off several huge loads and let them deal with it. Once the landlord sees the receipt for like $100 bucks for laundry, i'm sure he'll be willing to fix it asap

Well this is what I wanted to do, but am not sure if I am "allowed" to do this by law. I am in Chicago if that makes any difference.

 

[murphy55d]

this is why i will never rent again. i went through so much crap like this where we lived before we bought our house. never again, unless i have NO choice.

can't ever get ahold of anyone, something is always going wrong. ugh

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: effowe

Originally posted by: isekii
why dont you just use the laundry service and deduct it from the rent ?

Just drop off several huge loads and let them deal with it. Once the landlord sees the receipt for like $100 bucks for laundry, i'm sure he'll be willing to fix it asap

Well this is what I wanted to do, but am not sure if I am "allowed" to do this by law. I am in Chicago if that makes any difference.

you can't withhold rent. you may be able to inform the landlord and the courts that you want to place the rent in court-authorized escrow until the situation is resolved but you can't arbitrarily keep rent money.

 

[compman25]

What does your lease say about repairs? Does it mention the washer/dryer? Or are they there as a convenience and if they die, they die?

 

[effowe]

Originally posted by: compman25
What does your lease say about repairs? Does it mention the washer/dryer? Or are they there as a convenience and if they die, they die?

I don't know, I am going to have to wait until I get home to look it over. All this is not looking so well for me though because I should have put the request in writing when it happened.

 

[Steve]

My dad sells appliances at the Sears at Lawrence and Damen. PM me if you want the employee discount hookup.

 

[BoomerD]

The correct answer to your questions is:
1) It depends on the wording in your lease.
2) It depends on what Illinois State Law says about it.


In MOST states, a washer/dryer isn't required by law, and if they break, the landlord is legally permitted to remove the broken unit and NOT replace it. THAT's where your lease comes in.
Your furnace, hot water heater, MAYBE cooking stove, etc., are considered "necessary appliances," but convenience appliances, such as dishwasher, laundry equipment, and many others are not. The laws in some states say that if the rental comes equipped with certain appliances, the landlord is required to maintain them in working condition. I don't know if Illinois law (or maybe Chicago's rental laws) is so worded.