[michelle13]

Hi,
I am new here, just registered. Already made a search in the forum, but can not find anything regarding my question, which is:

I am living in a nice high-rise in Vegas (quite happily). Now they are starting to work on their water system and this month they shut off the water MO-FR 8 am - 5 pm for 3 (!!!) weeks in a row. Since I am working from home, this is really a great inconvenience and sometimes when the water should be back in the evening there is only cold water or the water is all brown ...

The water is included in my monthly lease to the homeowner. Can I lower the lease for April now (because I had 3 weeks in March nearly no water?). And what would be a good amount for a 1,5 bedroom condo (1000 sqf)?

Any help is appreciated.

Many thanks,
Michelle

[jbov]

I too live in this high rise, and the HOA told me this morning that the work might take 1-2 months!

I am getting sick of explaining to coworkers why my hygiene has gone south.

I too am wondering what sort of rights tenants have in this situation.

[olecapt]

Complicated. It does not break the lease. Kind of required repairs.

If you are renting you really have no standing with the HOA. All you can do is ***** to the owner. I would think a deduction is in order...but I doubt the owner has to do it. If you get blown off you can likely take the owner to small claims court for a few hundred dollars. If you want to play hard ball move to a hotel until it is fixed. But then you put that cost at risk. You will likely win...but there are no guarantees. You can threaten to move anyway...Or move for a few days and bill the owner.

You could probably put together a pretty good harassment campaign. The problem though is that you harass the HOA...not the owner. Go to the Southern Nevada Public Health District and talk to them. The HOA is likely required to provide clean water.

Look at the bright side. Adversity builds character...or something.

[KonaKat]

Were you given Notice that this would happen? Were any alternatives offered? Monday thru Friday for 3 weeks is a lot to put up with, I agree. However, it's entirely believable that there is some serious repair needed and cannot be put off. Do you have a property manager or did you rent directly from the owner? You could ask about being released from your lease because you feel 2 or 3 months of this situation is untenable (if that's what you want). Or you could ask that your rent be decreased by a certain amount for the time involved.

Difficult situation, true.

[unf0rgiven6262]

I would get together with other tenants and confront them as a group demanding lowered rent.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by unf0rgiven6262

I would get together with other tenants and confront them as a group demanding lowered rent.

Confront whom?

This is mostly an absentee landlord condo development.

And it is the hoa screwing around...not the LL.

[logline]

What building is this?

[Robustus]

Originally Posted by michelle13

The water is included in my monthly lease to the homeowner. Can I lower the lease for April now (because I had 3 weeks in March nearly no water?). And what would be a good amount for a 1,5 bedroom condo (1000 sqf)?

The actual value of the water you're supposed to be getting is trivial. For my 2000+ sqft house with a sprinkler system, I pay less than $20/mo for water. I imagine you probably use well under $10/mo in water. The inconvenience factor is far greater.

[airics]

Originally Posted by Robustus

The actual value of the water you're supposed to be getting is trivial. For my 2000+ sqft house with a sprinkler system, I pay less than $20/mo for water. I imagine you probably use well under $10/mo in water. The inconvenience factor is far greater.

i would guess even less than $10..
i don't think they have any ground to stand on.. this is not the fault of the LL at all...

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by airics

i would guess even less than $10..
i don't think they have any ground to stand on.. this is not the fault of the LL at all...

It is a habitability issue. If the water was gone continuously the unit would not be habitable. That would be grounds for action against the LL.

There is some of that here.