Annual Service Agreement
I signed a service agreement with an HVAC company to perform bi-annual services on my rental. After performing the most recent service, I was informed that the blower was clogged with dust and needed to be blown for an extra $200 fee.
I was just wondering if this is typical. I already paid for the annual agreement and was wondering if this should be part of the original service.
Also, what are the typical charges for these service agreements? Has anyone here done one of these before?
Thanks.
JS
Anyone?
Hopefully, she has been documenting and writing complaint letters to the landlord. If not, she should write them (save copies) and discuss how it is affecting the habitabiity of the premises. She should also look to her local housing authority for assistance (usually free) on the complaint process to make a formal complaint to the authority. With any luck, they will let her out when they see she is documenting everything.
Good case for renters insurance, for next apartment.
Wow, what a bad deal. 2 months without hot water, Wow I dont think soldiers in the Army Rangers would have put up with that. Especially since a water heater only cost $300, which an apartment complex shouldnt have had an issue with.
Sorry, but they will not believe that water would damage all the furniture. From a technical stand point, water is water, it should have just dryed out. Unless you got really cheap furniture.
I also do not believe it would have got to a point where it was.."standing" water in the living room. But the water leak would cause expensive damage to the apartment, in terms of mold, carpet, wall stains, rot etc. The apartment is the big loser here. I suspect they will try and keep the deposit just to cover their losses. Which is a crappy thing to do, but ive heard horror stories about landlords in Austin. The meaniest, most evil hearted folks in America, but that comes from New Orleans folks that unfortunately had to live there for a short time.
No organization will help her, sorry. She will just need to take photos and go to small claims court. Especially for any water damage, no one will believe it. At least i dont believe it for my renters, but i do know the damage to the home is expensive. A landlords nightmare!
dc,
my wife had this happen to her.
There was fire in the dryer vent line( supplied by the apt complex) that then caused the sprinklers to come on and completely flooded the prop. The mgmt did make an immediate attempt at fixing the problem. Long story short,
she documented everything, the fire, the sprinklers, kept every letter from them, they sent her a letter after the fact they the fire alarm system would be non-functional for a period of two weeks, sue them in small claims for code violations and an inoperable fire alarm system and won,
what did she win...... out of the lease with a return of her deposit, that was it, no loss of clothing, furniture or uninhabiltability award. Sorry, that is the way is usually goes.
your daughter needs to make sure she documents everything, even if it seems small, keep it in writing.
good luck.
[addsig]
When my tenants had to do without hot water for a single day they demanded a rent reduction for the inconvenience. No one wants to go without a shower, and a cold shower in a Michigan winter is a non-starter of an idea...
Chris
Why did the neighbor call you instead of the cops? Probably because there is no real proof, just suspicion. Tell the neighbor to report it and if indeed it checks out true, follow your lease.
Jim
FYI, in many states you have to be very, very careful at acusations of illegal activity. I would tell the neighbor their is nothing you can do without proof and they should report it to the authorities. The authorities will patrol the area if they are suspicious upon observation. If they get proof, they will act.
One time I was managing a four-unti complex. I actually saw a boyfriend of our tenant accept money for exchange of a package. I talked to our attorney and he said to write all four tenants a letter stating "we are concerned at the amount of traffic going in and out of the apartment. We have notified the authorities to please patrol the area to ensure safety for all of our leased tenants." No where could I indicate there was any illegal activity suspected.
I would not say anything to your tenant -- even if you observe something suspicious. Call the authorities.