Apartment Plumbing Problems : Tenant & Landlord Help

Too Crowded, Too Loud at Your Residence?

It happens, you end up settling with a residence that is too crowded and loud.  You really wish you could be anywhere but where you are.  But for now, you feel stuck.  Some things you can do to relieve some stress:

1.  Plan activities so you are not always home especially on weekends.

2.  Sound proof a room and invest in some ear phones for radio, TV, computer, etc.

3.  Find instruments that you can play using headphones.

4.  Don't worry over problem neighbors who are too loud, file a complaint with the landlord or police.

5.  Always be on the look out for available apartments in your community or in a desired location.

6.  Save your money for an upcoming move and check your lease on when to give a notice.

7.  Don't invite family and friends over, rather go where they are or arrange to meet somewhere.

You can probably think of other ways to bring peace to your situation.  Try your best to look on the bright side especially when you see yet another homeless man or woman on the street.  Count your blessings!  Do check this site on ways to remedy problems from maintenance issues to pests.

Nicholl McGuire has lived in many different areas over 20 years including Ohio, Pennsylvania and California.  She has also managed and leased units.  Nowadays, she stays in a multi-family dwelling with amenities including a pool she will never use.  Enjoy this blog, feel free to subscribe today!

Document Everything - When Things Get Worse Instead of Better - Apartment Living

You spoke with the landlord, you talked with neighbors and still no resolve.  You are angered that someone or something continues to happen.  Now is the time to start documenting everything, and if need be, take photos.

1.  Notice patterns when certain things occur.  Note whether they happen day or night, include times, and look for other things that are worth mentioning if the issue(s) end up in court.

2.  Set up recording devices if the issues are happening inside your unit.

3.  Take photos of all things related to your troubles.

4.  Ask a trustworthy neighbor to watch out for things that are troubling.

5.  Write down what neighbors say about the problems.  Note dates and times you interviewed with them.  Keep in mind, there will be those neighbors who don't want to rock any boats, so don't mention what you are doing to them.

6.  Get the police, health department, building inspectors, code enforcement, and others involved if you feel your safety is at risk.

Using your best judgment when it comes to apartment maintenance, noise, unresponsive landlords, neighbor issues, and more can be beneficial, but do keep in mind that troublesome individuals don't like to be reported.  So do make plans to move if your conditions are unbearable and also consult with an attorney and your local Housing Rights office.

Nicholl McGuire

Still Have Problems in Your Rental Residence and Landlord has Done Nothing?

For whatever reason, a landlord doesn’t always get around to doing what he or she promises. When this happens, a tenant becomes increasingly irritated. The phone calls to the office become frequent, in -person visits become argumentative, and threats start coming in like a flood! It doesn’t have to come to this, but since a landlord isn’t doing what is asked. There are some things tenants can do, but you have to be sure that what you are requesting is affecting your health and/or safety. Check your lease to be certain that the landlord responsibilities are outlined. In some cases, if the information is not stated in the lease contract such as, landlord is responsible for repairing or maintaining XYZ. Then it is up to the tenant to ensure that repairs are made. If something was already damaged before you moved in and the landlord promised to have it fixed and didn’t, yet you moved in anyway, he or she doesn’t have to fix it especially if you have no proof that the promise was made.

Writing a dated letter including things like: details of the problems, when contact was made with the office and the results or lack thereof is essential. Give a reasonable amount of time for the landlord to respond to letter. If there is no response, then escalate the matter. From contacting the owner to making an appointment with your local housing code inspector, you will want to get others involved. You will also need to read your state’s landlord tenant handbook to find out if you are able to do any of the following. Each option comes with a risk. A landlord can sue for rent payments, keep the security deposit, your credit history might be negatively impacted, and other issues might result if you can’t prove that your unit was inhabitable, affected your health or safety, or the landlord told you he or she would take care of repairs, but didn’t. You also don’t want to hold back all of your rent and avoid paying, damage the unit intentionally or try to fix things yourself without having proper knowledge, or do other similar things out of anger, because these actions might look like you were being unreasonable and acted in spite if you should go to court. The following are your options:

1. Repair and deduct a portion of rent.

Notify your landlord in writing BEFORE you have repairs made, await a response. State in your correspondence you will be deducting the repair cost from the rent. Keep receipts.

2. Abandon the rental.

You can move out the unit, but once again you will have to let your landlord know you will be vacating in 30 days.

3. Set up an escrow account.

You may withhold about 25% of the rent and put the rest in the account until repairs are made. However, do notify the landlord this is your intent and again await a response.

Learn more about your tenant rights by putting “tenant landlord rights” and include your state.


Nicholl McGuire maintains and contributes to other blogs as well. See Laboring to Love an Abusive Mate  http://laboringtoloveanabusivemate.blogspot.com and a blog for families with mixed age groups from babies to teens http://parentsbabieschildren.blogspot.com
 

Community Cover Ups - What Some Don't Want You to Know

Have you ever worked for an establishment that was less than honest?  If so, then you know you were most likely left with a choice either tell the truth, tell part of the truth, leave the truth out, or walk away.  For some of us, we looked for the opportune time and left different groups, settings, and people because they just didn't meet our personal standards.  They were either dishonest with the way they did things or deceptive when explaining them so at times they may have even left you scratching your head.  Of course, there were some shades of gray with these deceitful people that most likely moved some of you to leave your fields behind altogether, but for the sake of time, I will get on with the topic of this blog entry entitled, Community Cover Ups : What Some Don't Want You to Know.  In the property management industry there are those who are in the know about everything that is going on at the top.  From the personal interests of the building owner to what the secretary likes for lunch.  These same people also know what not to say or do to peeve the owner, investors and others.  Therefore, they will make sure employees do what is asked, no questions asked.

Now the cover up comes in to play usually when someone on the outside starts looking in at the inner workings of the company.  The resident who comes with a complaint is going to start asking questions.  He or she wants to know why something has been overlooked in his or her apartment, town home or rented house.  Now those who are out in the field, low level apartment management, only know what is being told to them by corporate management, those who run the business and all its employees.  So if corporate instructs community managers not to hold off on getting this thing or that thing fixed, then that's what they are going to do.  If those who work at the top are having some money troubles, they aren't going to let everyone privy on what is happening anyway.  Of course, there are those who manage to find out things; however, they know that if they do too much talking their jobs will be at risk, so they whisper amongst each other and talk in code with residents as if some day someone is not going to open up their mouths and say, "But she said...He told me that..."

The ones who have no clue what is really going on in the "big house" are those who have no direct access to those at the top unless owners just so happen to visit their properties.  So when the maintenance guy finds out that a resident has an ongoing issue in his dwelling, it is quite natural for him to act surprise and say, "I was unaware.  Was there a work order placed with the office?  Did anyone come out?"

Behind the scenes there is a lot happening and it isn't always pleasant.  Managers must meet budgets.  Owners must pay people.  And of course, residents must be happy.  But if there are some money problems at the top, personality differences, and other shady dealings then all those things will eventually come trickling down into the community at large.  Once happy residents are now unhappy.  Maintenance and housekeeping workers start thinking about working elsewhere.  Leasing consultants don't work as hard as they use to and managers they are left holding everyone's bags.  Meanwhile all the resident wants to know is, "When is someone going to come out here and fix my stuff!  I waited two weeks already!  If someone doesn't come out here fast, I think I will be contacting my lawyer!"  Does management want that?  Of course not.  However, there are those owners who are as tough as nails.  It doesn't matter what a resident threatens to do.  He or she will hold out for as long as he or she can until the resident decides he or she will move.  Now that might cost the tenant since he or she signed the contract, but contracts can be broken if owners and management are in agreement. then again maybe not--it all depends on how long and how loud the disgruntled resident screams.

So what about those cover ups, you might ask.  Why bother with them in the first place?  Why don't everyone just do their jobs?  In a perfect world, that would happen, but we don't live in any perfect world.  Look at our society far too many people are more concerned about money rather than relationship building.  It's just easier for some to pass the buck.  "That's not my job...I don't care...Why should I do anything that's not my prospect?" These are just a few of many, many statements staff say to one another.  The cover ups tend to come into play when someone along the chain of command screws up.  From paperwork to promises, a staff member opened up his or her mouth too soon about: assisting a resident, saying a job was complete before it was even started, knowing how to do something when the worker really doesn't have a clue, committing to a relationship with a staff member or a resident and now there is World War III affecting one's job performance, and more.  Management then has to make wrongs right by smiling and reaching some sort of compromise with the resident while frowning at his or her irresponsible employee.  This compromise might cost a little or a lot of money, both of which no manager wants to have come out of his or her budget if he or she can help it.  But let's just say that a cover-up does cost a lot of money to fix, now corporate is involved.  "Why are we spending XYZ for this?  What did your maintenance guy do?  What the#$%^&?" a boss doesn't want his lunch coming back up behind some on-the-job foolishness.

Other cover ups include things like, literally painting over something that should have been fixed prior to move in or taping duct tape to fix something that should have never been fixed with tape!   I have actually witnessed some things like this.  I was also the unhappy resident ready to blow up on someone too!  Old water stains covered up with a little paint by owners who don't want to repair a roof because it cost more than they can afford to pay.  I guess they assumed that it would never rain and reveal their tacky job?  Although I saw this situation developing prior to move-in, I couldn't get the one who signed the lease to recognize the problem beforehand.  Then there are those cover ups when it comes to things like electrical problems.  I was a victim in this situation too.  Apparently the crackling behind the wall and a blown out outlet had been overlooked, at least, so they say.  Then there are things like insect problems which I had been promised that the issue had been taken care of only to be welcomed by a few too many critters.

Leasing units with un-supportive management is one of the worse situations to be in when working in the apartment management industry.  You experience unnecessary stress from both sides.  The corporate office wants to see numbers, yet they don't recognize their part they play in permitting the numbers to sink by not meeting the demands of the residents.  Meanwhile, the lower level managers attempt to keep the faith by telling their people, "Oh my boss will take care of it.  This is a good company to work for.  We take care of our people."  Cover up statements to go along with covered up problems!  Like with all things, the truth will reveal itself sooner or later and when it does, you better not be the one caught in a lie.  It is better to leave a company and all the benefits that come with it rather than compromise your integrity.

Nicholl McGuire is the author of Know Your Enemy:  The Christian's Critic.

What Did the Landlord Promise, But Didn't Do?

So you walked the unit and noticed some things after you signed the lease, now what?  Well you call or write the landlord to ask that the issue be addressed.  But what then?  You wait about a week to 10 days.  Then what?  You make a personal visit to the office or you send another letter or make another phone call.  While you wait, take photos.  You my friend, are beginning to build a case against that landlord who claims to be, "Busy...I will get to it." 

You might have overlooked some annoying issues while you walked the suite, it happens.  However, some things, no matter how much you scream and yell, the landlord will do nothing, because he or she knows that some issues are not considered a health risk nor do they put his business at risk.

The following are a list of things that he/she will most likely ignore.  However, if you get these things fixed on your own, save the receipts and take photos.  If he/she doesn't reimburse you (for damages you didn't cause), and should have been done before move in--if you can prove his/her promise, feel free to contact the Better Business Bureau and/or file a case with your local small claims court.

So what about those non-essential issues?  Well if you don't make a big deal about them, the landlord won't address them.

1.  Window or door screen damage such as small holes or bent frame, but window works.
2.  An inoperable appliance like a microwave, but the stove works.
3.  Stain, hole or tear in carpet, but the majority of the carpet is intact.
4.  Cosmetic defects of walls, ceilings, doors, flooring, and cabinets, but they all are okay.
5.  Lightbulbs blown out, but the majority of the place has lighting.
6.  Windows that are hard to open and close, but you can still move them.
7.  Lukewarm water, but still gets warm just not scalding hot.
8.  Toilet hard to flush, but still pushes matter down.
9.  Garbage disposal issues (FYI: try pressing the reset key under the belly of it).
10.  Weird smell, but doesn't linger and poses no health risk such as: a dog or cat smell.

Now major issues usually don't go unnoticed because by law, things like electrical issues and piping problems must be addressed.  Check what rights you have as an apartment or home renter in your state.

Nicholl McGuire

Note:  Please be advised Nicholl is not a lawyer and can't provide legal advice.  She is the owner of this blog and former property manager and leasing consultant.

What Makes an Apartment Uninhabitable?

When you are living in an apartment unit, things can go wrong!  Sometimes it may take days, weeks even months for some owners to get around to fixing something in the unit.  The delay usually happens due to an owner's money problems, personal issues, or just because a tenant doesn't take his or her suite seriously enough to report an apartment problem more than once.  Sometimes residents don't bother reporting any maintenance issues because they don't want their privacy disturbed.  However, the longer you put off the issue the worse it will get and unfortunately in many cases, residents have lost their security deposits because they neglected to report damages they may have caused. 

Now there are those issues that residents are not responsible for.  Bad managers and owners know this, but will not address problems in the unit because they are hoping to save money.  Some may wait around before tending to an issue in the hopes that the resident will go ahead and get it done.  Sometimes problems in a unit can worsen and make the residence uninhabitable.  So the following is a list of conditions that would make a rental unit legally uninhabitable.

1.  Bad waterproofing and weather protection of roof and walls.  This would include broken windows and doors.

2.  Bad plumbing such as inoperable hot and cold water or no connection to a sewage system.

3.  Gas and heating facilities that don't work.

4.  Electric systems that are fire hazards such as lighting and equipment that doesn't work or frequently goes out.

5.  Unclean buildings, garages, rat and insect feces, and filth.

6.  Trash receptacles that are broken or no longer hold garbage.

7.  Bad flooring, stairways and railings.

8.  Toilets, wash basins, bath tubs and showers that don't work.

9.  An inadequate kitchen sink such as a leak or hole in piping.

10.  Windows that don't open or allow natural lighting.

11.  Inoperable deadbolt locks.

12.  Broken or absent smoke detectors.

Always check that these things are taken care of BEFORE you move in.  Don't trust property owners to ensure that issues get fixed after you have signed your lease and handed over your money.  Also, if you are already living in the suite and a major concern has yet to be addressed, seek legal counsel.  No one should have to live in an unfit unit.

Nicholl McGuire
Click on my link to read other work by me at a blog for parents.