[heyhey.im.j]

This falls under communication issues the most I believe.
If I'm posting in the wrong thread please let me know which would be better. So here is my issue, about a month ago the dryer at our apartment started making this high pitched squealing noise, so we brought it to the apt managers attention along with a smaller issue that was resolved the next day. (The toilet was leaking) she made a comment about having that fixed asap, as it was costing her money for the water bill and that she would put in a work order for a new dryer unit. We ran into the maintenance guy and he informed us that the dryer made it in (a couple days after our request) and that we would get it in the morning. Well we didn't, and another 2 weeks pass we do laundry daily and I have never left a dryer running if I wasn't there. It was really starting to get on our nerves and was really getting loud, so my bf mentioned it to the apt manager again, then we saw the maintenance guy again and was promised we would have it first thing Monday morning before something else came up (he was having trouble getting someone to help bring the unit upstairs) we even offered to help do it. Monday arrives but our dryer doesn't, we're starting to get pissed off now. A week later (last night) we're drying clothes and just dealing with the noise as usual and we hear an unusual noise come from the dryer, a small bang, we open the door and see a fire!
So, it's a weekend, and there's no emergency contact number for this place, but we did manage to extinguish the fire. Tomorrow my bf will be at work, I am on the lease but I have such a short fuse (and considering our issue lead to last nights excitement) I'm wondering if it would be a bad idea for me to go have a chat with the apt manager. My bf is livid now and so am I, but he can keep his cool better than I can. I do expect them to reimburse the damage done to our clothes, I had clothes in the washer that needed to be dried, I'm tempted to take them to a cleaners and give the receipt to the apt manager as well. What is the best way to handle this situation? This apt is not approved by the BBB either. Hlp please!

[RoseBee]

Go in and get a copy of the lease. In Texas, in paragraph 32, there is a clause about the apartments responsibility to the tenant. I don't know where it would be in the usual Louisiana lease. Once you find it, take your clothes to the cleaners and write out a bill for the clothes lost. Do what is necessary to fix the problem with the dryer and bill the apartment.

Louisiana law allows tenants to pay for “necessary”
repairs and to deduct the repair cost from the rent due
or demand immediate reimbursement from the landlord
30
. In order to deduct repair costs, tenants must be
able to prove each of the following:
A) The repairs were necessary.
B) The landlord failed to act within a reasonable
time after being notified.
C) The price paid was reasonable.
The tenant should keep copies of estimates, letters,
receipts and other documents which support his/her
case.

http://www.ag.state.la.us/Shared/Vie...Type=3&Doc=220 Page 16

Or, you could bill for clothes and dryer and notify of your intention to break lease if your demands aren't met in 30 (or 60 depending on state law) days and move.

Hope this helps.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by jumpinggrasshopper

I am on the lease but I have such a short fuse

Oh, no Been there, done that. Not good. Any way to go over their heads and complain to the "owners"? Otherwise I'd read the lease and see if there's anything about "timely manner" getting fixes and/or write a registered letter and mail it to the manager and/or mention the daily need and take your laundry elsewhere and get receipts for the cost and subtract them from your rent, etc. Sometimes just threatening talking to a lawyer and being patient and "expecting" it will be replaced/fixed in the next two days, etc. can get action; squeaky wheels do get the grease but I'd still be as polite as I could be but a bit more forceful/insistent, not argumentative.