Raindrops keep falling on my head...literally...
July 12, 2012 10:32 AM Subscribe
How can I get the landlords to do something about our intermittently-leaky roof?
We live in a very nice, relatively expensive apartment, Since we moved in (in October), whenever there is heavy rain, the roof starts to leak. We have complained and they have come, looked at the roof, patched some of the leaks, sent over important people from their rental organization, etc., but the roof still leaks. Some of my food got ruined the other day. It's not unlivable by any means, but since we are paying them a lot of rent, I would like it fixed. Is there any way we can get them to take this seriously?
We live in NC. Thanks!
We live in a very nice, relatively expensive apartment, Since we moved in (in October), whenever there is heavy rain, the roof starts to leak. We have complained and they have come, looked at the roof, patched some of the leaks, sent over important people from their rental organization, etc., but the roof still leaks. Some of my food got ruined the other day. It's not unlivable by any means, but since we are paying them a lot of rent, I would like it fixed. Is there any way we can get them to take this seriously?
We live in NC. Thanks!
Best answer: Have you contacted them since the last time they came by? I would politely (at least at first) bother them on a daily basis until you got a time and date someone would come by to fix it.
posted by griphus at 10:40 AM on July 12, 2012
posted by griphus at 10:40 AM on July 12, 2012
Best answer: When I first moved in, my landlord was dragging his feet about fixing a leak in our roof because he wanted to let the roof "dry out" between instances of leaking, which of course seemed to never happen.
What finally did it was my taking a picture of what our roof looked like in the act of leaking (i.e., showing the KITCHEN GARBAGE CAN I'd had set in the bathroom to catch the leak and the full flap of plaster hanging down from the ceiling) and emailed it to our super. He came to our apartment within an hour after my sending it to "see for himself," took one look, and then immediately got on his cell phone to call the landlord and say "I'm calling a roofer. No, seriously, I'm calling a roofer."
Visual evidence of how bad it is may help.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:44 AM on July 12, 2012 [4 favorites]
What finally did it was my taking a picture of what our roof looked like in the act of leaking (i.e., showing the KITCHEN GARBAGE CAN I'd had set in the bathroom to catch the leak and the full flap of plaster hanging down from the ceiling) and emailed it to our super. He came to our apartment within an hour after my sending it to "see for himself," took one look, and then immediately got on his cell phone to call the landlord and say "I'm calling a roofer. No, seriously, I'm calling a roofer."
Visual evidence of how bad it is may help.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:44 AM on July 12, 2012 [4 favorites]
Ours would not fix the roof, period. He left equipment to do so on the roof for months and months but still, every time there was rain, it would end with the kitchen floor flooded. We took plenty of photos of the stained and droopy ceilings, the flooded floor and the junk on the roof – and then used the documentation as leverage to mutually terminate the lease (and terminate they did). You may want to secure a lawyer before doing something like this, though. At the very least, document everything in photos - it'll help you if you eventually bring in outside help to get this problem solved.
posted by theraflu at 11:03 AM on July 12, 2012
posted by theraflu at 11:03 AM on July 12, 2012
Seconding taking photos and videos of the actual leak, as well as any damage from the leak.
Not only can you use it to make a claim to get your rent lowered, but leaking can cause paint and mold damage - which they may use to deny a refund of your deposit.
posted by Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth at 11:40 AM on July 12, 2012
Not only can you use it to make a claim to get your rent lowered, but leaking can cause paint and mold damage - which they may use to deny a refund of your deposit.
posted by Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth at 11:40 AM on July 12, 2012
This happened to me in an apartment I once lived in. In that case it turned out (after maybe 20 attempts to fix the roof, by various different roofers), that the roof was badly designed and would not be watertight ever, unless completely removed, replaced with a roof of different shape and size and material, and maybe not even then. It took 2 years for this to be decided, and when it was, the landlord sold the apartment (god knows how) and kicked us out.
I wish wish wish I had moved out the minute the first or second roof repair did not work. It would have saved so much stress, damage to our stuff, and time spent racing home from work when the rain started to check whether we needed to put out buckets. (And that exciting moments when the bedroom ceiling got so soggy it collapsed on us in the night while we were asleep).
My heart beats faster and I feel really stressed still every time I hear rain starting, even though it's been a few years since I lived in a leaky building.
So yeah, I think you should move. Maybe you'll be lucky. But maybe your situation might be beyond the landlord's control. Or maybe it will take a long time to resolve. Just move.
posted by lollusc at 9:42 PM on July 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
I wish wish wish I had moved out the minute the first or second roof repair did not work. It would have saved so much stress, damage to our stuff, and time spent racing home from work when the rain started to check whether we needed to put out buckets. (And that exciting moments when the bedroom ceiling got so soggy it collapsed on us in the night while we were asleep).
My heart beats faster and I feel really stressed still every time I hear rain starting, even though it's been a few years since I lived in a leaky building.
So yeah, I think you should move. Maybe you'll be lucky. But maybe your situation might be beyond the landlord's control. Or maybe it will take a long time to resolve. Just move.
posted by lollusc at 9:42 PM on July 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
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posted by Etrigan at 10:37 AM on July 12, 2012 [1 favorite]