[cooldude832]

I have a lease on a condo that is in a building which has a total of 8 units. I have a lease with a rental agency and all my lease and contract is with the rental agency, I do not interface with the property owner, who is an individual not the condo association.

I received a letter in the mail at the condo addressed to me saying that next week the electrical in the building will be upgraded and my unit will be without power for 4-5 days. I will also have to give the electrical company my unit keys as they will need to enter my unit to replace the electrical box.

My questions are:

1) Do I have to pay rent for the 4-5 days my unit in uninhabitable?
2) Is my rental agency required to pay me compensation for a hotel and dry ice to maintain my fridge?
3) The condo association sent me a letter addressed directly to me. I never gave my rental agency permission to give them my info is this a violation of our lease?
4) Do I need any other info to create more leverage here?
5) Will I be responsible for any cost from the power company since I am paying the electric bill here (disconnect/reconnect, inspections, etc.)
6) Am I required to comply with the request for my unit keys to a third party not part of my lease?


I do not have anywhere to live for the 4-5 days so I will end up paying $150x5 for a hotel + dry ice + having to eat meals out, etc. My reasonable cost for this inconvenience could be 2x my monthly rent.

[craig11152]

I am not an expert but I think the answers are:
1. no
2 no
3 no
4 n/a
5. no
6. yes

My guess is some of your questions are addressed in the fine print of the lease you signed.
I will certainly stand corrected by an expert in this sort of thing.

[craig11152]

as a sidebar 4-5 days seems like a long time. Have you talked to other folks in your building?

[froglipz]

Your renters insurance should cover your temporary hotel expenses.

[dragon_fly_12]

Originally Posted by froglipz

Your renters insurance should cover your temporary hotel expenses.

Why bill against renters when landlord-tenat laws make rental agency responsible for expense?

OP, the agency is responsible for putting you up in a hotel that is adequate. That means they aren't responsible for 5 star but can't put you in a trashy place, either. You need to call them asap. The agency is responsible to you, the owner is responsible to reimburse the agency.

[reenzz]

Originally Posted by dragon_fly_12

Why bill against renters when landlord-tenat laws make rental agency responsible for expense?

OP, the agency is responsible for putting you up in a hotel that is adequate. That means they aren't responsible for 5 star but can't put you in a trashy place, either. You need to call them asap. The agency is responsible to you, the owner is responsible to reimburse the agency.

The landlord can not charge the tenants rent, but they are NOT responsible for alternate accommodations or food storage. Please cite any state landlord tenant law.

[dragon_fly_12]

If the unit is not uninhabitable through no fault of the tenant, yes the landlord is responsible to give reasonable alternative accommodations or let the tenant out of the lease obligation.

[dragon_fly_12]

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/docume...ntlandlord.pdf

Additionally, almost all courts recognize that implied in a residential lease agreement is the understanding that the rental property must be fit for habitation by humans. This means that the rental property must meet some minimum level of standard so as not to expose the occupants to unreasonable health risks. This implied duty cannot be modified or waived.