Forum
« Repairing Brownstone Doors Ceramic Tile Over Formica »
September 29, 2009
Who is Responsible?
I'd like to get some opinions about the following situation--This past weekend I moved into an building with 5 floors, two units on each floor. In order to get my couch in, my movers took the inner front door off of its hinges, and put it back on when they were through. I noticed when I used the door that it didn't close as easily as before, but I figured that they put the pins back in the hinges too tightly and it would loosen up. While unpacking boxes I heard someone come in and say loudly "F---ing door is f--ed up!" I went back down and looked at the door again, but it still closed and locked, it just didn't close as smoothly as I remembered. I decided to call my landlady and left her a message. The next day while I was at work, one of my neighbors took the door off of it's hinges entirely and leaned it against the wall covering all of our mailboxes. My landlady told me that I hired the movers and it is my responsibility to have them come back and reattach the door. I called the moving company and the owner told me I was crazy and that it's not his problem. My landlady refuses to have her building maintenance worker fix it. What should I do? Do I have to hire someone to fix it myself?
Comments
Yes, it's your responsibility. Your agents did it. Either get them to fix it or hire someone who will.
Posted by: denton at September 29, 2009 1:21 PM
I'd talk to the landlady and offer to pay for the repairs, but I'd want her to get her maintenance worker to do it or else have her recommend someone to do the work (so she can't blame you if the job isn't done right).
I'd also make sure to get a cost estimate. If it is absurd, I would then want to hire my own guy.
Posted by: northsloperenter at September 29, 2009 1:40 PM
Why the heck did another tenant take the door off? IMO, It may be your responsibility but with the door still hinged, I would think it could be merely adjusted to close properly. Have tenant put door back how they found it. Then deal with getting it adjusted.
Posted by: BrookLynn816 at September 29, 2009 1:40 PM
I'd move! All these stories about trifling, petty landlords! She should just get the stupid door fixed (it is not a big, expensive job) and not start off on an antagonistic note with her new tenant. Good will is worth far more than what she'd pay for the door. Of course, I guess the same can be advised to you - the good will part...
And yes, the door "broke" on your watch, so to speak, so you are responsible I suppose. Jeez!
Posted by: henrycurtis at September 29, 2009 1:59 PM
I agree with Northsloperenter.
Posted by: fawn at September 29, 2009 2:49 PM
if i was you and saw the door totally off the hinges lean against the mailboxes i would have knocked on the neighbors door who did and screamed at them asking them do they think we live in a barn or something!?!?
i would think the landlady would want the door back on for the safety of her property. she sounds petty and your neighbors sound loony. you're gonna have a fun year!
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at September 29, 2009 3:02 PM
Geez. I can't believe one of the tenants was so pissed off about the door not closing "as smoothly as before" that he just took it off and stuck it in a ridiculous place. Nice.
Anyway, I was wondering about the movers you used. Were they certified and did they have insurance? It seems that the moving company simply responding that you were "crazy" and it isn't his problem is incorrect. If his movers damaged something in the course of the move, they need to remedy. At least that is what I always thought.
Posted by: Nokilissa at September 29, 2009 3:04 PM
Agree with Nokilissa- the movers must have noticed that there was something wrong with the door when they put it back on. Have them come back and re-attach the door. If they don't come back, dispute the charge on your credit card for the amount you have to pay someone else to fix what they broke.
Posted by: KitKat at September 29, 2009 3:53 PM
get better movers next time....
get a better landlady...
get better neighbors....
get a better door...
get some fatter screws for the hinges...
yes, the mover is responsible, but...they didn't pull the door down the second time, so prove it..
yes, the landlady's person should fix it so she doesn't blame you for a bad repair...
personally, i would just put the door back up myself and figure out what's wrong and fix it. most likely the screws holding the hinges into the frame and/or the door are not tight, the holes are stripped, need to be plugged and redrilled, or maybe just tightened, or maybe just a different screw.
then, you need to get your landlady to come see for herself that you fixed the door, so you can put the matter to rest. let the neighbor and the landlady take care of each other and know who your neighbor is and keep your distance.
then move...
Posted by: raphael9 at September 29, 2009 4:03 PM
How about you get a cost estimate from the landlady and put in a claim with the movers?
Posted by: Maly at September 29, 2009 4:05 PM
WTF? Lawsuits? Maintenance workers? Angry neighbors. Put the door back, tighten up the screws and adjust accordingly, there usually is a little play with the hinge plates.
Posted by: bmfesq at September 29, 2009 4:16 PM
I can't imagine another tenant would take the door off the hinges if it was just a little bit stiff. There must have been something more difficult about it after they reattached.
Forget the claim and give your super a few bucks to reattach it properly. Not worth the hassle of trying to chase it down from the other tenants or the movers - you'll get nowhere on that route anyway.
Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at September 29, 2009 4:16 PM
The response you received from your mover is unacceptable. If the mover is reputable, he will carry insurance. However, aside from this , if his employees removed the door , they are responsible for re-hanging it in the same functioning condition as they found it. Try to work this out with your mover before you hire someone to remedy the problem. As noted above, your landlady was not responsible for the doors initial removal and now bears no responsibilty for the necessary repair. Be sure to let your landlady know that the movers did not leave the door unhinged, but another tenant, (perhaps a disgruntled problematic tenant) took it upon themselves to remove the door entirely from it's hinges. Ask the landlady or her representative to ask the "unhinged" tenant to put the door back on it's hinges as he or she found it originally. Leave it right where the angry tenant placed it, do not move it or attempt to re-hang it yourself. Keep in mind, neither you nor your movers caused the "current" removal & obstruction. Good luck!
Posted by: Crescent Hill at September 29, 2009 4:32 PM
Personally I would have said nothing and see if it came back to bite me in the ass. In your case it looks like your movers f-ed up. I agree with the other post that mentioned that the movers insurance should cover the cost of a locksmith/ handyman to fix the door.
Now you've openeded your big mouth to everyone, just drop the super a 50 spot with your apologies.
Posted by: bobbyj at September 29, 2009 4:55 PM
The door would be OK if your guys didn't take it off and put it back wrong. You are responsible. Go to the landlady, say you are sorry about it, ask her advice on who she would use and use that person and pay them. You will start off your new lease on the right foot. How hard is that?
Posted by: donatella at September 29, 2009 10:27 PM
The door would be OK if your guys didn't take it off and put it back wrong. You are responsible. Go to the landlady, say you are sorry about it, ask her advice on who she would use and use that person and pay them. You will start off your new lease on the right foot. How hard is that?
Posted by: donatella at September 29, 2009 10:28 PM
you hired the putzes who fucked up the door..man up and pay for the repairs
Posted by: eman1234 at September 29, 2009 10:39 PM
Listen to denton. He/she talks like a lawyer. The way I see it, you just got some free legal advice.
It is your responsibility to fix it. I would add that if you have more time than money, get all the documentation you can (statement from landlady that the door wasn't right, write a VERY NICE letter to the mover detailing how his employees removed the door and did not rehang it properly, take pictures, maybe record the next conversation with mover--be above board about it and inform him that you record such calls for your own personal records, etc). Ask nicely but firmly in a letter to the mover (certified mail and keep a copy) for reimbursement for the cost of having it rehung properly. When he refuses, file complaints with the BBB and Chamber of Commerce, explaining in a very level-headed way what transpired. And sue for reimbursement in small claims court.
But for all the time and hassle, it is not worth it to most people. Even if you get a judgment (and I think you would) then you have to collect it. Just chalk it up to experience and eat the cost of rehanging the door, which of course is your responsibility. And let the rest of us know which mover it was so we can avoid him.
mikez
Posted by: mikez at September 30, 2009 12:27 AM
Not sure we are getting the entire story here.
Sounds to me that the door he is referring to is the inner lobby door.
If I had to guess, I would say that the mover also messed up the door buzzer and the closer.
The buzzer allows other tenants to buzz in visitors which means that the top floor tenant now needs to walk down 5 flights to open the door to each visitor.
This is the more likely reason why another tenant opted to remove the door altogether. If the mover messed up the buzzer, all tenants in the building are affected by it.
Clearly, you and not the landlord, are responsible.
Do the right thing, have a professional reinstall the door properly.
Posted by: jre at September 30, 2009 3:21 AM
Does the tenant who removed the door live in the adjacent apartment to the vestible? Reason I ask is that it's bad enough sharing a wall with a door that's constantly slamming on the other side (I know bc I used to live with a similar situation). But if the movers did not re-hang it right and it slams harder, or squeeks, or whatever, the tenant was probably going bonkers! I'd do the same effin thing.
Posted by: bowl of dicks at September 30, 2009 8:29 AM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.