Tennant rights (apartment, renters, insurance)

[Dernorey]

Basement flooded 5 times, once was with sewage, it's 9 months since the first flood, landlord is now getting problem fixed, but it's going to take 1 month, the first 4 days we will have no water from 9am to 5 pm, so no use of toilets shower etc, the full month we will have no use of laundry. We pay 2,000 a month rent, are we entitled to anything? Can we decide to vacate the property and find elsewhere to live as the disruption is going to be too much and take too long?? We have only been given 2 weeks notice of the work start date.

[zoomkay]

Do you have renters insurance? Normally renters insurance would cover the cost of hotel stays on a temporary basis if the situation is approved by the insurance company (mold/water). If you don't, and vacate the property during this time; hotel costs will be at your expense and you still have to pay rent.

As far as the water shut off between 9 am to 5 pm, it happens all the time, and is perfectly legal in order for the repairs to take place. You may have to wake up early and shower, and leave for the day. Most people are at work during that time... When you come back, turn on the faucets and let the water run for a few minutes.

Your landlord has provided you with proper notice in my opinion.

[reenzz]

Take a shower at night or before 9am.

Go to a local laundromat.

Legally, the landlord is only required to give you a 24-48 hour notice. Two weeks is plenty of time.

[brrabbit]

a) ask a lawyer specializing in landlord/tenant law
b) you'd need to send a written demand to reimburse you for hotel stay/ provide refund for unused days from rent/ allow to break the contract
c) be ready to repercussions such as having unfriendly landlord, unrepaired basement, legal fight, eviction, bed references to your next landlord.

Or ask politely landlord to cut you some slack because repairs prevent your normal use of the apartment.... He may reimburse you for several days without fight and hard feelings.

[just1paul]

Landlord has given proper notice. You need to make other arrangements for laundry, water outage times are at times when most people are away.

[cnjmama]

WI DATCP: Tenants Rights & Responsibilities

Https://www.landlordology.com/wiscon...d-tenant-laws/

Originally Posted by Dernorey

Basement flooded 5 times, once was with sewage, it's 9 months since the first flood, landlord is now getting problem fixed, but it's going to take 1 month, the first 4 days we will have no water from 9am to 5 pm, so no use of toilets shower etc, the full month we will have no use of laundry. We pay 2,000 a month rent, are we entitled to anything? Can we decide to vacate the property and find elsewhere to live as the disruption is going to be too much and take too long?? We have only been given 2 weeks notice of the work start date.

A residence without running water is considered unhabitable, legally you are not expected to stay and the landlord should have mentioned that he recommends you not stay for safety reasons.
Usually a time frame is considered acceptable because you have been given time to prepare, however I hope that time is guaranteed.

As for all the comments about this situation being 100% ok, they sound like landlords, where are you suppose to go to the bathroom? Also, the comment about most people not being home between 9-5pm, ah ok?...that's called 1st shift, but there's also 2nd and 3rd shifters. ?..



At the very least you should receive a credit for each day you go without whatever ammenities you were entitled to in your rental agreement, but did not receive because those are part of your rent.
Will the landlord offer the credit or agree to it, I highly doubt it.
It's a sticky situation and you can not withhold rent in anyway because the landlord can evict you.
In situations like this the only way you will be reimbursed is by taking him to court after the fact.

Renters insurance is a great safety net for renters who discover their lanlord is a slumlord!
I would assume you have had many issues with your landlord and I hope you are keeping track of any loses you have occured in case you decide to take him to court.
There's a link above about Tenant laws and I believe there is someone offical you can call with general questions.

Where on earth are you paying $2000 a month and dealing with floods, clearly there's a major plumbing problem and it took your landlord 9 months to truely address it....yikes