Is there a time limit…?
To how long a Property Manager has to fix a busted utility?
At my current residence I’ve been faced with many situations that cause me to wonder if I were to present this to a court, could i get out of my lease. (dont get me wrong i dont want to leave here)
for example, i plugged my microwave into the wall and the outlet started smoking and I could hear it sparking. I called my land owner/property manager and nobody came or called back. I had to go out and buy the materials to fix it myself.
I also called south west gas because i came home and my house smelled like gas. I found out my heater has problems with it and needs to be fixed. I notified the land owner and she said they’d be right on it. That was on the 20th of October. And nobody has since called me or sent somebody over to fix it.
Can anybody help me out with this? Do they have a time limit to get this stuff done?
May 10th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
I would suggest you sit down and read your lease thoroughly first. There should be some information as to owners obligation to make repairs. If there is and they are in violation, you have a reason to declare the contract violated.
As for the two situations you mentioned, I would send a certified letter return receipt requested, with your next rent payment along with the receipts for materials and deduct it from the rent amount. Mention that if the heat is not repaired in the next 48 hours you will be calling a repairman yourself and deducting the cost of that repair from next months rent. Hopefully when the manager/owner realizes your not playing around they will act.
May 10th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
don’t know of a time limit but do know u need to keep calling and telling them u need it fixed. i would also keep receipts for stuff u do and subtract the amount from the rent and give them a copy of the receipt. maybe u can talk to someone at fair housing and get them in trouble. u can always move and report them to bbb and the housing authority. thankfully i have a good landlady and good maint. people.
May 10th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
There are usually certain things they class as emergency repairs such as plumbing, gas, electrical, sewage etc that must be fixed in a timely manner to make the house liveable and safe.
If your landlord doesn’t fix these in a lot of cases you are legally allowed to arrange repairs and bill the landlord, refuse to pay your rent and keep on hassling them.