Another What Is My Responsibility Question (lease, tenant, rental, legally)

[auntieannie68]

newest issue here----laundry area plugs for landlord supplied washer and dryer have both shorted out---he is aware and will not address replacing this receptacle and/or wiring---must take my clothes and canes to laundromat now----my question-----is a ll legally supposed to fix wiring if some problem occurs---this is not specifically addressed-----does this come under ll responsibility as far as major repairs???

i have had lights flickering here,even had fire dept over during a horrid electrical basement smell--they promised code enforcement and nothing happened

still looking for affordable non smoking rental on local bus line---but in meantime----short of going over my escape plans in case of a fire---any ideas???

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by auntieannie68

going over my escape plans in case of a fire---any ideas???

phosphorescent paint

[alsier2004]

Call your local housing authorities. That is serious and a fire hazard. Also- he must replace if it was operating when you moved in.

[CarlitosBala]

Melt some plastic for aroma and spray fire extinguisher all over the area, and call your landlord in a panic, telling him there was a fire at the place, luckily you were home to put it out.

I bet the plugs are exchanged that same day.

(this is probably bad advice though)

[sware2cod]

check the web regarding demand letter to landlord to fix the item per the existing lease. you might want to quote state law so try to find exact wording for your state law on the matter. Quote the lease as needed as well.

try state or county landlord tenant attorneys or similar that give free consultation..sometimes an agency does this for tenants free of charge...advice and such.

[ShaneSA]

Is the availabilty of an on-site washer/dryer in the lease? Write a demand letter and send it USPS with a recipt to make sure it got to the LL. After 10 dqays, if no action, call the code enforcment office yourself, call the local housing office. And call the fire department to ask them to monitor the situation and to be aware of the fire haqzard.

[KonaKat]

He must maintain the dwelling in a safe and habitable fashion, including maintenance on appliances that are there. If they're working when you move in, and the laundry room is for you to use then yes, he needs to repair things. This also sounds like a possible safety issue so I'd make some noise if I were you.

[auntieannie68]

thank you shane ,kona and everyone--i will follow the suggestions(except for the paint and fire extinguisher)----the washer,dryer and outlets were all working in the beginning and were a part of the offerings of this half-double.

i am paying an extra hundred more per month than the other side for these amenities(plus central air)

when the ll came by,his comment was---hmm,this could start a fire,don't know if i'll fix it and if the air conditioner goes out well that's it!

i took this to mean he is going to ignore it too----my dilemma is the only town code officer is the ll's wife's relative---so he will blow this off ---but i will try to go around him somehow

the possibility of a fire here is very real!

[auntieannie68]

just updating--still awaiting electrical fix on outlets----out of the blue ll brought over 2 other appliances----plugged em into same outlet---no response----ll looked perplexed----stalling on getting an electrician and i am pretty sure why------line would be founding leading to next unit--i have discovered if i hear the next door generator or washer running and i put something that runs into the outlet that shorts out--it immediately stops the appliance/generator on the other side from running--hmmmmmmm!----MRS LL ASSURES ME THAT THE RECEPTACLE WILL BE REPLACED----maybe even this year

for a humerous note---the appliances brought over yesterday were caked with mud in the drums and had a distinct brown tinge to most of the inside parts---obviously retrieved from last septembers flooded homes (am laughing on the inside--NOT)