Odd landlord question

[Jzero]

Last night I got a haircut from a barber I hadn't had before (he only works on Mondays), and in chatting he mentioned that he was looking for a tenant for a one-bedroom efficiency apartment for the same amount of money I pay now for my studio efficiency.

Figuring I had nothing to lose, I wandered over and took a look. It is a nice little place, and he seems like a great guy, and he gives a good haircut.

After looking around for a few minutes, I pointed out to my gf that it doesn't have a full-sized fridge, and it doesn't have any kind of stove at all.
Well, I love to cook, and I cook quite often, so having a stove and a decent-sized fridge is a must, so I went out, told the landlord it was a nice place, but with no stove and a small fridge, it just wasn't going to work for me. He commented that it was a shame, b/c he had JUST removed the stove when it was vacated. I Thanked him for his time, and told him I'd see him at the barber shop soon.

Later today I remember my mom once saying that in NJ, it is illegal to sell a house without a stove - the house is considered uninhabitable.
I did some poking around on the intarweb and I determined that, indeed, in PA, a dwelling without a working stove is considered uninhabitable.

The landlord seems like a nice enough guy, I don't think he's trying to put one over on anyone, I think he just decided that rather than replace an old stove that he didn't think got much use, he'd just do away with it.

Should I let him know that he could get in trouble if there's no stove?
Or should I just don't worry about it...?

My coworker (law degree) joked that I should lease the place and then file a lawsuit against him. Heh....lawyers

 

[Rufio]

Originally posted by: Jzero
Last night I got a haircut from a barber I hadn't had before (he only works on Mondays), and in chatting he mentioned that he was looking for a tenant for a one-bedroom efficiency apartment for the same amount of money I pay now for my studio efficiency.

Figuring I had nothing to lose, I wandered over and took a look. It is a nice little place, and he seems like a great guy, and he gives a good haircut.

After looking around for a few minutes, I pointed out to my gf that it doesn't have a full-sized fridge, and it doesn't have any kind of stove at all.
Well, I love to cook, and I cook quite often, so having a stove and a decent-sized fridge is a must, so I went out, told the landlord it was a nice place, but with no stove and a small fridge, it just wasn't going to work for me. He commented that it was a shame, b/c he had JUST removed the stove when it was vacated. I Thanked him for his time, and told him I'd see him at the barber shop soon.

Later today I remember my mom once saying that in NJ, it is illegal to sell a house without a stove - the house is considered uninhabitable.
I did some poking around on the intarweb and I determined that, indeed, in PA, a dwelling without a working stove is considered uninhabitable.

The landlord seems like a nice enough guy, I don't think he's trying to put one over on anyone, I think he just decided that rather than replace an old stove that he didn't think got much use, he'd just do away with it.

Should I let him know that he could get in trouble if there's no stove?
Or should I just don't worry about it...?

My coworker (law degree) joked that I should lease the place and then file a lawsuit against him. Heh....lawyers

if you feel nice, let him know. ask him for a free haircut then. hahah

 

[Slacker]

Why dont you let this nice guy know about the laws before some prick rents the place and then files a lawsuit against him.

 

Double check your laws. I don't think there is any stipulation that says you need a stove to sell a house.
Now, a house with out a stove HOOK-UP might have some problems.
I can almost guarantee that thoes problems will be resolved if there is a line in the contract or deed stating the house comes with no actual stove.

 

[Cyberian]

Is it the whole house that has no stove, or just the apartment that you looked at?

 

[Ulfwald]

Don't be a prick.

Let him know that you had remembered that law, and you are not trying to cause him any trouble, but he might want to replace it before some prick does lease it then sues him.

 

[Ime]

Tell the man!

 

[badluck]

I wouldn't tell him. For some reason, I doubt you'll be able to pull off telling him w/out looking like a dvck. Even though I think it would be a nice thing, you still might look like a prick. If you can avoid this, tell him.

 

[Vic]

Link to this law? I've never heard of such thing. Plus, he's not selling it, he's renting it. And, where I have seen, it's quite common for older rental units to not come with a stove and refrigerator. In fact, rentals ads will specifically state "R&R" meaning range and refrigerator when a unit does come with one.
And if it's a better place for the same amount of money, why don't you just buy a cheap stove? I think I saw a Home Depot or Lowes ad the other day and they were selling stoves for as cheap as $200 and refrigerators for as cheap as $300. A little money today saves a lot down the road.

 

[Ornery]

If you like it, why don't you snag it? You can buy any kind of stove and fridge you want, and take 'em with you when you leave.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Vic
Link to this law? I've never heard of such thing.

Tenant's Rights C/O UPenn
Refrigerator is not mentioned, but the unit must have a functioning stove in order to be considered habitable.

As for adding my own stove, there's not really much room for one, and it would not be one I would take with me when I move out. The fridge I could do, but it's still not worth it - I've got a full-sized fridge in my existing apartment.

 

[Spooner]

that's weird, i would think a fridge would be more important than a stove

(not that i would live in a place that forced me to choose)

 

[Codewiz]

Microwave and fridge is all I need

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Codewiz
Microwave and fridge is all I need

My existing apartment came with a convection oven which was later replaced with a great combo microwave/convection device. In all honesty between that, my electric steamer, my foreman grill and my crock pot, I don't often need to use the stovetop, but I would definitely miss not having one.

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: badluck
I wouldn't tell him. For some reason, I doubt you'll be able to pull off telling him w/out looking like a dvck. Even though I think it would be a nice thing, you still might look like a prick. If you can avoid this, tell him.

Yeah, I'd have to agree with badluck... Unless you're already really close to the guy he'd probably take it as you pushing for him to install the stove.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: DurocShark

Originally posted by: badluck
I wouldn't tell him. For some reason, I doubt you'll be able to pull off telling him w/out looking like a dvck. Even though I think it would be a nice thing, you still might look like a prick. If you can avoid this, tell him.

Yeah, I'd have to agree with badluck... Unless you're already really close to the guy he'd probably take it as you pushing for him to install the stove.

And if someone subsequently rats him out, he might assume it's me and "slip" the next time I go get a haircut hehe.
I'm thinking I'll just let it slide. I don't know if someone would even be able to sue him for punitive damages, I think at worst they would only be able to compel him to install one.