Comments on: i am renting an apartment. my air conditioning has been broken for over 2 months. what can i do?

By: acermill

acermill — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 23:59:09 +0000

I agree with BrokerPro. Don’t get this fixed by yourself and attempt to deduct repair costs from rents. Don’t withhold rents either.

FIRST, check to see if your lease actually covers the fact that AC is included. If it’s NOT in the lease (and not required by your state’s laws) you have NO basis for doing anything other than asking regularly that it be repaired/replaced.

Understand that the simple fact that there is an AC unit in the apartment does NOT mean that it has to be in working condition. In nearly all states, AC is considered an ‘amenity’.

By: BrokerPro

BrokerPro — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:49:01 +0000

You can only withhold rent for habitability issues, e.g. hot water or electrical not working. But when the leasing agent is too busy to attend to one of their jobs- which is making sure everything is running smoothly in the units- you should first put your request in writing and note the other times you had left messages on the issue. You could state that since over two months have already gone by, you will give them X days to complete the repairs or you will make a direct contact to the owners.
If you still don’t get action, ask a local agent to look up the owner’s information from county records and then send a copy of your written request and notes regarding the attempts you have made to get the A/C fixed and request their intervention to get it done. Good luck!

By: Eddy T

Eddy T — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 03:16:49 +0000

Get a air conditioning repairer to fix the air condition. And off set the cost of the repair against the rental.

By: argybargy

argybargy — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:02:49 +0000

Get quotes from 3 stores for buying and installing a replacement air conditioner.

Contact your local tenant/landlord mediation group. Ask for guidance in presenting the planned invoice to the landlord in a manner such that she either pays to do the work, or you pay and deduct it from rent.

By: Robert G

Robert G — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 07:54:49 +0000

In mosts states you can repair it yourself and deduct it from your rent. However, doing that never ends up being a good deal for either side vs. sitting down and coming to an agreement. However, if you can’t I believe you have the legal right to spend your rent on it.

By: donna d

donna d — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:04:10 +0000

take them to court on your lease.it is included on your lease right i wouldn’t pay rent until it is fixed i am sure if you did that they would be on the ball fixing it pretty darn fast or like i said you van take them to court on a lease violation.