Why doesn’t Halifax have any system in place where renters can make complaints against landlords? Sure there is the tenancy board, but that doesn’t work for things quickly like, say repairing a roof asap. It is currently raining in my apartment kitchen. I’ve called the landlord, he will be around on Monday to take a look at it (today is Saturday… the paint is bubbling, the floor wet). He can’t be bothered to come down to look at it and to fix it, seriously.
The tenancy board office is closed on weekends. I called the HRM office, I made a minimum standards complaint, which takes 4 business days for them to process. Why isn’t there a rentalman’s office like in other provinces?
I am stuck in a lease until June 30th. A couple weeks ago we had a leak in between the wall of our apartment and the apartment next to us. Now on the other side of the apartment it is leaking. Now all I can think about is mold, and the risk of electrical fire, as I am pretty sure that electricity and water don’t mix.
It must be nice to be a landlord who just collects the rent, doesn’t properly repair leaks, and can’t be bothered to say at least come down and take a look at the damage. I have a feeling that the damage from the leak will somehow be coming out of my damage deposit. —Can’t Wait to Move
This article appears in Mar 31 – Apr 6, 2011.
Stop paying rent, until the problem is fixed to your satisfaction.
It’s Monday, is the contractor there yet? No? Call the landlord, tell him if there isn’t someone there to repair the dammage, NOW, you’ll hire your own contractor, and have them bill the landlord directly.
I doubt any contractor is stupid enough to bill a landlord for work instigated by a tenant…however, not paying rent is a good idea.
and keep after the minimum standards guys. just because they have 4 business days doesn’t mean they need to take that long to get back to you – especially when water and electricity are at risk of mixing aka creating fire.
I called the landlord this morning, to see when someone was coming to fix the leak. He tells me there isn’t a leak. When he hasn’t been in the apartment to see what is happening, how does he know there isn’t a leak?
If it isn’t a leak, then why is the paint bubbling, and what is the wet clear liquid coming from the ceiling?
OP, of course you have Tenant’s Insurance, right? I know my friends insist on their tenants all have it to cover any damage.
did you bother to ask where the running water was coming from, and is it hot enough for you there? you might have to buy a tent, and camp out in your front room. as to the tenancy board, don’t hold your hand on your ass waiting for them to help you.
The tenancy board, grr. I need to get out to bayers lake to get an application. Even then the decision is not enforceable. It’s also $30 to apply, and that fee is not returnable, and i am not able to ask for that fee to be paid by the landlord if a ruling is in my favor.
I have a message to the mla, hoping that they might be able to point me in the right direction as to who to call.
The water is coming from the ceiling, it doesn’t appear to be from a pipe as there are no pipes there.
Call a building inspector.
pay your rent to the tenancy board. they will hold it for the landlord until the repairs are fixed. At least that is my understanding.
That *might* work, Bon, but I personally have doubts that a building inspector would be more timely than any of the other myriad bureaucracies the OP has contacted.
call the health board then. they will show up a lot quicker than most people. tell them that there is a chance that there there maybe some kind of cancer causing filler in the walls and ceiling. they will be there with a has mat team pretty pronto.
Honestly LS, I don’t even want to know what is between the walls here. Although the health dept may be an option. I’m just looking at the clouds thinking, how much water will come down tonight.
Holding rent may cause you a lot of grief, Mama9 has a good thought if you can do that
I would make sure to take a notebook and write down explicit details of all communication attempts between you and the landlord. Note down dates, times, what was said. How many times you’ve called. Also write down any other information like other people you’ve contact regarding the situation. This can serve to be VERY VERY helpful especially when you may have to present your case to the tenancy board.
pictures o.p., lots of pictures to back up what you say. if one is worth a thousand words, then 50 is a book. date, mark down times, and make sure you have witnesses in there too.
after you get that, then there can be no fucking bullshit. are you looking for another place? if so, mail me and i might be able to get something going for you over here. it is a no pet building tho, but if you ahem, sneak a kitty in, who’s to know. the owner is real decent, fixes things if they need it, and doesn’t bug the shit out of you.
i’ve been here 7 years may 29th., and have never had a problem with him. the other tenants are cool and we are almost like a big happy family here. gary_more@hotmail.com , for the name and number of owner.