Value of elevator access in four-story building

April 20, 2009 8:07 AM

[Posting for a friend] What is the value, monthly, of having elevator access to a fourth-floor residence?

My friend rented an apartment in a four-story building in the Fashion District in downtown Los Angeles for a year. It was marketed as an elevator building, but the elevator never worked while she was there; elevator access is part of what she was paying for.

posted by smich to law & government (5 comments total)

Are there similar apartments for rent in the area without elevator access? You could figure out the difference that way.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 8:15 AM on April 20

Did she ever notify management that the elevator didn't work? Did she document it if she did?
posted by amro at 8:26 AM on April 20

I have to clear up a misconception here before answering the question. Unless the lease specifically says so, she's not paying for the elevator. In fact, most likely, she's not paying for much of anything other than heating, a stove, and a lack of cockroaches. The relevant authority here is California Civil Code Section 1941.1. Unfortunately, it's like this in most states. In the future, I suggest writing into your lease amenities you value to provide some modicum of protection. Otherwise, you're more or less out of luck if the landlord decides to ignore them.

That said, I'd value elevator access to a 4th floor apartment at $25-$50/month.
posted by saeculorum at 8:47 AM on April 20

It was marketed as an elevator building

"Marketed"? What does that mean? Does your friend have records of ads saying the apartment featured an elevator? Does their lease specify elevator access?

If your friend wasn't raising hell the whole time they rented this place and trying to leverage some concession from the rental company during that time, I doubt they will be able to get any type of reward ex post facto.

But your question is asking about the value of such access... who can say? It's completely subjective to the tenet.
posted by wfrgms at 8:48 AM on April 20

She should have been submitting repair requests in writing via registered mail to her landlord if she felt there were infrastructure problems with the building which required repair in order for the terms of her lease to be met by the landlord.

If she didn't do that, and she's no longer living there, what possible recourse could she have at this point?
posted by hippybear at 12:12 PM on April 20