Renters question for San Fernando Valley (apartment complex, appliances, how much)

[Danny5764]

FINALLY!!!...thank you for this forum, hope somebody can help. Live in this apartment complex, been there for 5 years with pretty much no problems at all. i have a situation that requires some knowledge that i do not posses which is renters rights. a gas line has busted underneath our building (there are 2 building for this complex) and one side of the building that i live in now has no gas!! i am sure that management (or at least i hope) is doing there best to fix the problem which has turned into a major repair, but i -and all the other tenants on my side-have not had gas for 3 weeks. my fast food bill has gone up...and i don't even like fast food. i live here with my 2 kids. 2 days ago they gave my a $100 check as a sorry. do they know how much it cost to feed 2 kids take-out for 3 weeks??!!!! it felt more like a slap on my face. I feel bad for the apt manager cause she is taking the bulk of the BS, but hey...i gotta eat. what are my rights, where can i go online? i have access to the company that owns the apt (tenant who has been here forever had the number), what can they/should they do for me/us??? thank you again

[KazChasey]

Hi & hello! Kaz Chasey here...

Seems to me your question would be best off for a lawyer (Or other similar life form, such as the gunk on the bottom of my shoe. Amirite?!) but I'll chip in my dos centavos anyway.

You got $100 for the inconvenience. Is it enough? Maybe not. Is it fair? I'd say it is. No, it probably doesn't cover 3 weeks of fast food for 3 people, 3 meals a day, unless you're eating off the dollar menu, which maybe you should be.

Nevertheless, the $100 isn't meant to bankroll your food budget for the month. It's meant as a supplement to help out with the inconvenience of not being able to cook. If you had gas to cook you would still be buying food. The $100 is just to make up for the difference to the average tenant. Would you give the money back if you were a raw vegan enthusiast who doesn't even know how their stove works? I doubt it. Likewise, it's not the management's fault you have 2 kids who you insist on making bacon-egg-and-pancake breakfasts for every morning and are unable to do so.

There are things other than fast food and cooked food that you guys can eat. Get a box of cereal and a jug of milk. It goes a long way. Make a salad. Make a sandwich. You've got plenty of options to mitigate your damages and have a normal meal. You're being unreasonable.

[nightlysparrow]

What's wrong with cooking in a microwave?

And don't you keep earthquake supplies for when there would be no gas or electricity?

[Danny5764]

LOL....ok, let me rephrase the question.I havent had gas for 3 weeks, management is not telling me (and other tenants im sure) anything. Your (both of you) responses were a bit harsh, but its cool because your right, salads, cereal, and even sandwiches can be made. And YES...this has made me realize that I am not earthquake ready.

So let me revise this: fast-food has only been a small portion of the 3 weeks of eating. there have been salads, cereals, and many sandwiches, and I do not expect any one to pay for my eating either. I guess what was bothering me was the lack of info that we were getting. there are noticeable holes in the lawn from the digging they started 3 weeks ago but it looks as if they haven't done anything since. i have even asked some of the old timers who don't work if they have seen any activity during the day and they have said no.

So relax your pants Kaz, and please don't assume that my children are asking for specific things to eat because they have no problem with the cereal. As a rent payer, and a single father, the situation is frustrating. I pay for a working apartment, and if it doesn't work, please give me the courtesy of communication and updates. And I was not looking for specific legal advise, just some friendly (not attacking) helping words from people who might know a little more than me.

LOL....ok, i was a bit clearer, lets see if i don't get attacked this time.

[nightlysparrow]

Have you tried getting info from the gas company? They are usually responsive. You could at least ask for the progress report.
SoCalGas - SoCalGas Homepage

If this is something that was broken due to your building's management, that is another story. But the gas company might be interested in learning about the problem if they have not been informed.

Did you know there is a special forum here for renting issues?
//www.city-data.com/forum/renting/

BTW, was not trying to attack you. I dust my stove, and could easily live without it.

[Danny5764]

Actually, before this situation happened, it did occur to me that I do cook far to much for myself and the kids and that a change is needed. But what can I say, mama always had a hot meal for me and my siblings....its just habit. And yes, the gas company is involved, which is why I thought that there would be more details and communication. I don't get home till 5:30-6pm so knocking on peoples door is the last thing on my mind. And I don't know what I read on hear which made me think that this was the forum for renters problems so I apologize for using this thread to vent, but thank you very very much for the link, I really really do appreciate it. In retrospect, when I woke up this morning I wanted make my kids some french toast (our favorite) because they have been so darn good with this situation (better than myself i might add) that i wanted to make them a nice breakfast-and i guess reality just hit me and the patience disappeared and the anger and frustration got the best of me, and I needed to get some answers somewhere. fortunately the link to this site was one of the first when i started Googling.Thank you again Nightlysparrow-and yes, even you to KazChasey- i know your intentions to offer advice were genuine.

[VLWH]

The stop in work could be due to permits, city inspections, ordering parts, or a combination of any or all of the above.

[KazChasey]

Hey, not trying to attack you, man. I appreciate the calm response and I apologize if I came off aggressive. In this day and age so many people seem to feel entitled that you just assume when there's a squeeky wheel it's someone looking for a free lunch. Like the folks before me have said, there could be any number of reasons for the stoppage in work. Your best bet is just to stay in the loop and keep up with your landlord. He/she might not even know what's going on if they're not the property owner. The landlord might be in the dark same as you are. Just keep an open line of communication. Once the repairs have been made, have a talk with the landlord and see if he/she can refund you some cash over the inconvenience. The landlord will probably be in a better mood and more willing to right wrongs AFTER the problem is solved rather than while he's got the weight of his tenants and bosses coming down on him 24/7.

[ninnty]

I'm going to go ahead and say that if your landlord/manager is stressed by this situation, tough cookies for him. You entered an agreement that you pay rent, he provides an apartment (with gas). So many people act like the landlord is doing the tenants a favor by letting them live there. That is not the case at all. But life happens, gas lines break, and you have a right to be pissed.

Anyway, I would suggest investing in one of these in the meantime.


http://www.target.com/p/imusa-electr...4k4hoCbrTw_wcB

[UserX]

Judge Judy would say MOVE! No one is forcing you to live there.